Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, has granted bail in the sum of N300 million, to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
As part of the bail conditions, Emefiele is to produce two sureties, who must have landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT.
Justice Muazu had remanded the former CBN boss in Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja, pending his ruling in the bail application argued last week by Emefiele’s lawyer, Mr. Mathew Burkaa, SAN.
Before his arraignment on an amended six-count charge last week, another judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, had ordered his unconditional release having spent a total of 151 days in custody of both the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Emefiele however, was not in court during Wednesday’s proceedings.
The anti-graft agency had last Friday arraigned the former CBN boss before a High Court of the FCT on charges bordering on procurement fraud.
Although he pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge read against him, the trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, ordered his remand in the Kuje Correctional Center, pending his ruling on Emefiele’s bail application.
However, shortly after his arraignment on Friday, the court adjourned till November 22, to determine the bail application, just as he fixed November 28, for the commencement of trial.
Delivering ruling on Wednesday, Justice Muazu, who noted that bail is at the discretion of the court said he was inclined to admit Emefiele to bail.
The judge held the offense with which Emefiele was charged was bailable, subsequently released him on bail in the sum of N300 million and two sureties in like sum.
The anti-graft agency had in August, first charged Emefiele and one Mrs. Sa’adatu Yaro and a company, April 1616 Investment Limited, purported to belong to Mrs. Yaro, on alleged breach of the Procurement Act in respect of the purchase of some vehicles but the arraignment could not go on because of the reported ill health of Mrs. Yaro.
However, when the matter was called on Friday, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, drew the attention of the court to an amended charge dated November 8, 2023.
In the new charge, Emefiele was the sole defendant and the charges were reduced from 20 to six, to which the former CBN boss pleaded not guilty.
In count one, he was alleged to have used his position as governor of CBN to confer corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of “Eight Hundred and Fifty-Four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N854,700,000.00) only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and thereby committed an offence.
Count Two:
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No.) Toyota Avalon at the cost of Ninety-Nine Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N99,900,000.00) only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yero is a Director and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.”
Count Three:
“That you Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa‘adatu Ramaiian Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 1 (No) Toyota Landcruiser V8 at the cost of Seventy-three millon, eight hundred thousand Naira (N73 800 000 00) only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and thereby committed an offence.”
Count Four:
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2020 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramailan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 2 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Shell Specification Vehicles at the cost of Forty Four Million Two hundred thousand Naira (N44,200,000.00) only to April1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a Director and thereby committed an offence.”
