Court adjourns Emefiele’s trial to January 2024

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to Thursday and Friday, January 18 and 19, 2024.

Emefiele is facing a six-count amended charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud to the tune of N1.6 billion.

Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Friday, November 17, to the tune of N300 million with two sureties.

He was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending after meeting his bail conditions.

A prosecution witness, a top official of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), testified at the resumed hearing that Emefiele was not the owner or shareholder of April 1616 Investment Limited, the company awarded the N1.2 billion vehicle supply contract by the CBN under Emefiele’s leadership.

The witness, whose name was not revealed in court, presented several documents detailing how the company was formed on August 1, 2016. He also read out the names of the company’s shareholders, which include Aminu Yaro, Maryam Abdullahi, and Saadatu Yaro, as joint owners of the entity.

Emefiele’s attorney, Mathew Burkaa, declined to comment on the day’s proceedings, stating that Emefiele is yet to meet his bail conditions.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) and the Federal Government’s counsel also declined to comment on the proceedings.

The trial is set to resume on Thursday and Friday, January 18 and 19, 2024.