The suspended governor of Nigeria’s central bank, Godwin Emefiele was arraigned over N6.9 billion in procurement fraud on Thursday at a court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
His trial, however, stalled due to the absence of the second defendant, a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, said to be indisposed. He is being charged with 20 counts of procurement fraud, conspiracy, and providing corrupt benefits to his accomplices, together with Yaro and her business, April 1616 Investment Limited.
The matter was postponed to August 23, 2023, by the presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, in response to a request for delay.
Shortly after the postponement, the suspended apex bank chief was seen hiding from cameras and journalists in a video that has viral on social media.
The offences are said to have violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 which states that “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.’’
Emefiele has been detained by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) since his detention on June 9, following President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of him.
Emefiele had earlier been slammed with a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and re-arrested by Nigeria’s secret police at the court premises despite a ruling granting him bail.
Meanwhile, another court in Lagos on the same day struck out the “illegal possession of firearm charge” after an application by the Ministry of Justice to withdraw it.