*Submits report to Tinubu
*Emefiele to be arraigned in Lagos court on 26-count charge on Monday
Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos
The Jim Obazee-led team set up nine months ago by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other related entities has concluded its assignment and turned in its report to President Bola Tinubu.
This was just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would on Monday, arraign a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja for alleged abuse of office over allocation of billions of United States dollars.
However, the President appreciated the former Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Obazee, for his services as the Special Investigator of the CBN and other related entities.
Tinubu, according to a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, lauded Obazee for the dedication and professionalism he exercised in handling the complexities of this critical national assignment.
With the conclusion of the assignment and submission of a final comprehensive report, and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation has formally closed, with all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies already conducting follow-up action.
The President thanked Obazee for answering the call of duty while wishing him success in his future endeavours.
Tinubu had last July appointed Obazee, as Special Investigator of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other related entities.
In a letter addressed to Obazee dated July 28, 2023 and personally signed by him, the President had explained that the appointment of Obazee was in line with his administration’s commitment to fight corruption and in accordance with provisions of Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Meanwhile, the EFCC would on Monday, arraign Emefiele at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
Emefiele and his co-defendant, one Henry Isioma Omole, would be arraigned before Justice R.A Oshodi on a fresh 26-count charge.
The charge sheet, marked ID/23787c/2024, was dated April 3, 2024. It was filed by EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN.
The 1st count states that Emefiele committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, of “abuse of office”, an offence punishable under Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The count alleged that Emefiele, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”
Count two, also of abuse of office, alleged that Emefiele between 2020 and 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary, act to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291,945,785.59, without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.
In the 3rd count, Emefiele was alleged to have, in 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $1,769,254,793.16, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”
In count four, the sum involved was $370,872,893.01.
