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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Emefiele battles EFCC’s bid to introduce more witnesses in fraud trial

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Godwin Emefiele, the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, requesting an order to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from presenting additional witnesses beyond the 10 originally listed in his ongoing procurement fraud case.

Emefiele’s lead counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), argued that since the EFCC had only identified 10 witnesses in its proof of evidence submitted to the court, it should not be allowed to expand that number.

Burkaa maintained that introducing new witnesses at this stage would be procedurally improper.

However, the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), countered this claim, asserting that additional witnesses were crucial to ensuring a thorough and fair trial.

He argued that limiting the prosecution’s ability to call more witnesses would infringe on the EFCC’s right to a fair hearing.

After listening to arguments from both parties on Monday, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the matter to March 20, when a ruling on the application will be delivered.

Emefiele is currently facing 20 charges, including allegations of criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy under case number FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.

The charges also accuse him of abusing his position as CBN governor to grant undue advantages to April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

During Monday’s hearing, the EFCC presented its 10th witness, Salawu Gana, who testified that the contract awarded to April 1616 for supplying vehicles to the CBN adhered to procurement regulations and internal guidelines.

Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s legal team, Gana explained that the CBN’s Procurement Department had thoroughly reviewed quotations from competing bidders before selecting April 1616, which offered the lowest bid.

He emphasized that Emefiele’s approval of the contract was based on recommendations from the CBN Tenders Board, of which Emefiele was not a member.

Gana confirmed that the vehicles were delivered as contracted and that payments to April 1616 were made following the board’s recommendations.

He also stated that neither he nor the five procurement officers involved in awarding the contract had been charged by the EFCC.

Furthermore, Gana testified that there was no evidence linking Emefiele to financial transactions involving April 1616’s bank accounts.

He confirmed that Emefiele had no direct or indirect ownership, nor was he a signatory to the company’s accounts, as verified by the company’s registration documents.

Additionally, Gana noted that Emefiele did not exert any undue influence on the procurement process through personal communication or directives. According to him, he reported directly to his supervisor, Mr. Ekanem Akpan, rather than to Emefiele.

The EFCC’s counsel, Oyedepo, also tendered several exhibits detailing the bidding processes for 45 vehicle supply contracts awarded to April 1616, RT Briscoe, and Globe Motors.

Gana reiterated in his testimony that April 1616 secured its contracts due to offering the most competitive bids.

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