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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.
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the military administrator of Rivers State following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly.
The announcement came during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday amid heightened political tension in the oil-rich South-South state.
Tinubu said the suspension would last for an initial period of six months.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Tinubu Suspends Fubara, Deputy and Lawmakers
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” the President stated.
Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff who served from July 2015 to January 2021, will take charge of the state’s affairs.
Tinubu clarified that the judiciary remains unaffected and will continue to function as mandated by the constitution.
“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state,” Tinubu added.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Tinubu made the announcement in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, citing undisclosed reasons for the decision.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Rivers Assembly Accuses Fubara, Deputy Of Gross Misconduct
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” the President stated.
The suspension comes amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State.
More updates to follow…
In what political watchers perceive as part of efforts to discomfit and scatter the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the feeling that its National Working Committee (NWC) antagonises him, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the rights to occupy the land on which the party’s national secretariat, Abuja is sited.
Biztelers reports that Wike’s revocation notice was conveyed in a letter released in Abuja on Tuesday, dated March 13, 2025.
The letter was titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja.”
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The letter was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
Wike, it was gathered predicated his action on the PDP’s failure to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025.
The negligence on the part of the opposition party, the letter claimed was despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.
The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.
“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”
There are palpable fears that the PDP’s national secretariat might be demolished or vandalised, sooner than later because Wike added that the FCTA administration would take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.
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