NEWS
Emefiele Approved Contracts, Payments To Wife, Brother-in-law – Witness Testifies
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele faced damning allegations in court on Monday as a prosecution witness accused him of awarding lucrative contracts to companies owned by his wife and a brother-in-law.
This testimony was given during Mr. Emefiele’s trial at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Responding to questions from the defence team, Mr. Agboro, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), provided details in the ongoing case where Mr. Emefiele faces charges including corruption, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining approximately $6.23 million under false pretences.
His trials in Abuja and Lagos follow his removal from office by President Bola Tinubu last June.
During the proceedings on Monday, Michael Agboro, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), testified under the guidance of Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) prosecuting for the EFCC.
Agboro had initially stated in March that former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele awarded 45 contracts, totaling billions of naira, to family members and associates, including his wife Margaret Emefiele.
The witness detailed that April 1616 Investment Limited, owned by Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, a CBN employee and an associate of Mr. Emefiele, was one of the companies benefiting from these contracts.
According to Agboro, a collaborative investigation involving the ICPC, EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and the State Security Service (SSS) revealed that these contracts were allegedly awarded to confer corrupt advantages upon the recipients.
During cross-examination, prosecution witness Michael Agboro reaffirmed his earlier claims despite questioning from Godwin Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
According to reports, Agboro reiterated that Mr. Emefiele allegedly conferred unfair advantages on Saadatu Yaro, a CBN employee, as well as on his wife and brother-in-law through awarded contracts.
When asked if Mr. Emefiele personally approved and awarded contracts, Agboro confirmed that the defendant indeed approved the contracts in question.
Responding to queries about the distinction between Mr. Emefiele and the CBN institution, Agboro noted that while Mr. Emefiele was an employee of the CBN, there existed a difference between the two entities.
Regarding Mr. Emefiele’s role in the tender’s board or procurement department, Agboro admitted he did not possess knowledge on those specifics.
He said “We limited our investigation to him, his wife, relatives and associates.”
However, Michael Agboro clarified that investigations did not find evidence of Mr. Emefiele holding directorship, shareholding, or account signing authority in April 1616 Limited or Architekon Nigeria Limited.
He also acknowledged there was no proof indicating these companies paid Mr. Emefiele for his official duties.
When questioned about whether his investigative team interviewed relevant CBN officials regarding the execution of contracts by these firms, Agboro confirmed they did.
However, he admitted he couldn’t recall if their final report definitively stated whether the companies successfully completed the contracted jobs.
Justice Muazu accepted the exhibits into evidence and adjourned the case until June 25, 2024, for the witness to undergo re-examination.
The prosecution has leveled 20 charges against Mr. Emefiele, including criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses, and obtaining money under false pretenses during his tenure as CBN governor.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Mr. Emefiele forged a document titled “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions” dated January 26, 2023, with Reference No. SGF.43/L.01/201, purportedly from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The EFCC has accused him of leveraging his position as CBN governor to unfairly benefit two companies, namely April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd, through corrupt means.
International News
Lebanon Must Not Become The Next Gaza – Australia’s Foreign Minister Repeats Ceasefire Call
Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, warning that Lebanon risks suffering the same humanitarian catastrophe as Gaza if violence continues to escalate.
Speaking at the United Nations, Wong condemned the ongoing airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs and urged global leaders to take urgent action.
“This attack cannot and should not be justified,” Wong said, emphasizing the toll the conflict has taken on civilians.
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She highlighted Australia’s firm stance against Hamas, with sanctions already in place on the group’s leaders and financial backers.
However, Wong expressed deep concern over the heavy civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s response to Hamas.
Wong stated, “More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 11,000 children. Nearly two million Gazans have been displaced, many multiple times, and over two million are facing severe food insecurity. This must end. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price for defeating Hamas. All lives have equal value.”
Wong also pointed out that nearly 300 days have passed since Australia and 152 other countries voted for a ceasefire, yet the violence continues.
“Today, I repeat that call,” she said, urging both sides to halt hostilities.
The foreign minister also stressed the importance of averting further conflict in Lebanon, where tensions are rising amid ongoing air raids.
She called for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for peace between Lebanon and Israel.
“Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza,” Wong warned, calling for immediate international efforts to prevent further bloodshed.
A tragic helicopter crash involving a Pakistan oil company has left six people dead and eight others injured.
The incident occurred during takeoff on Saturday when the aircraft, operated by Mari Petroleum Company (MPC), suffered a technical fault.
The helicopter was carrying fourteen individuals, including three Russian pilots and crew members, when it went down in North Waziristan, a region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border.
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In a statement, MPC confirmed that the crash resulted from engine failure, ruling out any signs of sabotage.
“The accident has claimed the lives of six individuals, while eight others have been injured,” the company reported.
The injured have been promptly transported to a military hospital for medical treatment.
The team was reportedly on a visit to a nearby oil field at the time of the accident.
Mari Petroleum Company is recognized as one of Pakistan’s largest petroleum exploration and production firms, which continues to strive towards fully unlocking the country’s resource potential.
Further investigations are underway to understand the circumstances surrounding the crash.
In a tragic incident, South African police announced on Saturday that they are initiating a manhunt following a mass shooting that left 17 people dead in the town of Lusikisiki, located in the Eastern Cape province.
The violence erupted late Friday night, with reports indicating that 13 victims — 12 women and one man — were discovered dead in one residence, while four others were killed in a second location.
An additional victim remains in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
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National police chief Fannie Masemola addressed the media, stating, “We do not know the motive” behind the killings and emphasized the uncertainty regarding whether there are one or multiple suspects still at large.
This shooting marks the latest in a series of violent attacks in the region.
Earlier this month, seven family members, including three children, were shot dead in their home in KwaZulu-Natal, with no arrests made in that case.
Additionally, in April, ten family members—including seven women and a 13-year-old boy—were killed in a separate mass shooting in KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa continues to struggle with a high homicide rate, estimated at approximately 45 per 100,000 people, a stark contrast to the 6.3 per 100,000 in the United States and around 1 per 100,000 in most European nations.
Over the past year, the country recorded more than 27,000 homicides, averaging over 70 killings daily in a population of 62 million.
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