A Federal Capital Territory high court on Thursday, adjourned until June 24, for the continuation of hearings in the trial of the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The matter was adjourned on the prosecution’s request for an adjournment.
The prosecution and defendant were absent when the case was called for hearing.
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Although counsel from Emefiele’s team was present to represent him, the trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, demanded to know why he was absent.
Emefiele’s counsel, I D Ahmed, apologised to the court for his client’s absence and proceeded to inform the court that they were served an adjournment letter by the prosecution.
The judge, however, said, “Because you have a letter of adjournment from the prosecution does not mean the defendant should not be in court.”
Justice Muazu then adjourned until June 24 and June 25 for continuation of the trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Emefiele with 20 counts of criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence when he served as the chief of the Central Bank.
The EFCC alleged that Emefiele forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and claimed the documents came from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The embattled ex-CBN governor was said to have falsely represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation via a letter dated Jan. 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 where he requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance for $6,230,000 “in line with the former President’s directive.
Also, the anti-graft agency alleged that findings revealed that Emefiele used his office as the apex bank governor to confer unfair, undue and corrupt advantage on his wife and colleague using the companies; April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
Emefiele in the amended charge was alleged to have, on February 8, 2023, knowingly obtained by false pretence, 6.2million dollars.
The prosecution’s seventh witness (PW7) Agboro, an investigator with the Independent, Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, at the previous hearing, tendered documents as proof of this claim.
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