An investigator from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Agboro Omowera, testified on Monday at a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
He revealed that ten officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), including former Governor Godwin Emefiele, were involved in the approval process for multi-million contracts awarded to April 1616 and Architekon Nigeria Limited.
Emefiele was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of abusing his authority to benefit his wife, Margaret, and brother-in-law.
Allegations included approving payments totaling N97.9 million to Architekon Nigeria Ltd, a company where they both held director positions, for supplying office furniture to the CBN.
Also, Emefiele was accused of awarding a contract worth N99.8 million to the same company for external works on the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos.
During cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa (SAN), Omowera confirmed that ten individuals were involved in the contract approval process. However, he emphasized that ultimate responsibility rested with Emefiele as the CBN governor at the time.
He said, “10 persons acted on the documents awarding these contracts.
“There are 10 minutes and one approval, so one person takes the responsibility.
“He (Emefiele) is the head of the CBN and the buck stops on his table.”
Burkaa, also asked the witness if Emefiele conferred a corrupt advantage on himself.
The witness said, “No. Why I said no is because we limited our investigation to his relatives and associates and not him.”
According to PUNCH, Omowera while being led in evidence by the counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that the findings of his investigations showed that Emefiele conferred a corrupt and unfair advantage on Architekon Nigeria Limited and April 1616.
According to him, Emefiele’s wife, Margaret Omoyile, is listed as a director of Archtekon Nigeria Limited.
He added that Emefiele’s wife used her maiden name to register the company.
Omowera also said that a staff member of the CBN, Sa’adatu Yaro, is listed as the Director of April 1616 Investment Limited.
According to him, the company was awarded several contracts for the supply of over 45 Toyota Hilux Vehicles ranging from N854,700,000 to N99,900,000.
He added that his investigative team comprising of different agencies including the Department of State Services, also found out that Yaro’s husband had other companies but they were not patronised by CBN except the one in which the wife was a director.
Omowera said, “In the second company, April 1616 Investment Limited, we also discovered that one of the directors of that company by name, Sahadatu Ramalan Yaro, was a director of April 1616 Investment.
“We discovered that the company was incorporated a few days after her employment with the CBN and she was posted to CBN Lagos office.
“In 2018, the company started to enjoy the patronage of the CBN in the procurement of particular vehicles, Toyota branded motors.
“During the period, this company was awarded about 45 different contracts
“My lord, we were curious as investigators, how it was possible for a company that has no track record to continually win bids against Toyota-accredited bids.
“We tried to confirm whether this company was accredited by Toyota and to our surprise, it was not among the accredited bidders.”
The trial judge, Hamza Muazu, subsequently adjourned the matter till April 25 for the continuation of the trial.
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