Abuja, Aug. 17, 2023- The FCT High Court has adjourned hearing on the allegation of N6.9 billion procurement charges levelled against, Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria to Aug. 23.
Justice Hamza Muazu on Thursday adjourned the hearing due to absence of the two other defendants in the suit.
Emefiele, who was present in court, was charged alongside Sa’adatu Yaro, a female CBN employee, and her company, April1616 Investment Limited, on 20 charges bordering on procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages.
The offence of procurement fraud is contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The section read: “Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five years without an option of fine.’’
In the charges, jointly signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar; Deputy Director, Public Prosecution, Nkiru Jones-Nebo and eight other ministry officials, the three accused persons are alleged to have bought a fleet of over 98 exotic vehicles and armoured buses valued at about N6.9 billion.
Some of the vehicles bought between 2018 and 2020 included 84 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 10 armoured Mercedes Benz buses, three Toyota Landcruiser vehicles and one Toyota Avalon car. (GBN)
