N6.9bn Procurement Fraud: Court Adjourns Emefiele’s Arraignment to Aug 23

 

The High Court in Abuja has adjourned sitting following the arrangement of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.

 

The judge arraigned due to the absence of the first and second defendants, who claim to be indisposed.

 

Emefiele’s arraignment follows the oral application by the Federal Government to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor to replace with fresh allegations of N6.9 billion procurement fraud against Emefiele and his associates.

 

In an oral application, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that Emefiele would be charged with 20 counts of procurement fraud, conspiracy, and providing corrupt benefits to his accomplices together with a female CBN employee named Sa’adatu Yaro and her business, April 1616 Investment Limited.

 

He has been detained since his removal from office on June 9, 2023. He is accused of giving Yaro, April 1616 Investment Ltd. director, corrupt perks.