Crime
Emefiele Allegedly Awarded Contracts to Family Members’ Companies
Emefiele Allegedly Awarded Contracts to Family Members’ Companies
Mr Michael Agboro, a prosecution witness, has alleged that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, awarded contracts to companies owned by his wife and brother-in-law.
Emefiele is facing a 20-count amended charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence during his tenure as CBN Governor.
The EFCC alleges that Emefiele forged a document titled “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions” dated January 26, 2023, with reference number SGF.43/L.01/201, purporting it to be from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Additionally, Emefiele is accused of using his position to confer unfair and corrupt advantages on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
Agboro, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), testified and was cross-examined by Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, SAN.
When asked if Emefiele conferred unfair and corrupt advantages on himself, Agboro responded, “He conferred on Saadatu Yaro, who is a public officer working under him. He also conferred on his wife and brother-in-law.”
Regarding whether Emefiele alone could award and approve contracts, Agboro confirmed that the contracts were approved by the defendant. He also stated, “The difference is that the defendant was an employee of CBN,” when asked about the distinction between CBN and Emefiele.
Agboro admitted that their investigation was limited to Emefiele, his wife, relatives, and associates. Their findings revealed that Emefiele was not a director, shareholder, or account signatory in either April 1616 Nigeria Ltd or Architekon Nigeria Ltd. Additionally, there was no evidence of any payment made to Emefiele by these companies during his tenure at the CBN.
When questioned about whether they interviewed CBN personnel to verify if the two firms executed their contracted jobs, Agboro confirmed that they did. However, he could not recall if this was included in their final report.
Agboro, led in evidence by EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on March 11, tendered several documents, including company registration documents and contract award and payment records related to the two firms. The documents showed that a director of April 1616, Saadatu Yaro, is a public officer with the CBN, while Emefiele’s wife, Margaret Omoyile, and his brother-in-law, Mac Congo, were directors in Architekon.
Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case until Tuesday for the re-examination of the witness.
A Kaduna High Court on Tuesday ordered that two brothers be remanded in a correctional centre for alleged culpable homicide and armed robbery.
The police charged Hamza Jibrin, 27 and Yusuf Jibrin 24, with conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.
Justice Aisha Shagari ordered the remand of the defendants, after they pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
Shagari adjourned the matter until Dec. 12 for hearing.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, James Edward, said that the defendants and two others at large, while armed with matchete and other dangerous weapons along Airport Road, Kaduna, on Nov. 7, robbed and caused the death of a 26-year-old man, Rabiu Sani.
He said the defendants stole the deceased’s HP laptop, two cell phones, his wallet which contained two ATM cards and cash sum of N30,000.
Edward said that the offence is punishable under the Robbery and Firearms ( Special Provision) Act LFN, 2004.
The Defence counsel, Habiba Usman, had pleaded with the court to grant her clients bail.
Usman while moving her bail application, urged the court to gtant her client bail on literal terms, adding , that the defendants would be of good behaviour and would not jump bail.
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced a 20-year-old trader, Darwang Chung, to nine months in prison for attempted theft.
Chung, who resides at Gyel in Jos South, pleaded guilty to the one count charge of attempted theft.
The Magistrate, Mr Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos, in his judgement, gave the convict an option of N30,000 fine, or to risk six months in prison and a compensation of N15,000 or another 3 months in prison in default.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Labaran Ahmed, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 6, at the”B” Division Police Station by one Yohanna Dalyop, the complainant.
Ahmed said the convict jumped over the fence into the house of the complainant and was caught.
He said that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code Law.
The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Police, on Tuesday arraigned a defendant before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged unlawful interception of digital infrastructure.
The defendant, Ayodeji Oyenekan, was charged before Justice A. Aluko, on a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
He, however. pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Mr M. Y. Bello, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in February 2022.
He, alleged that the defendant intentionally and without authorisation, intercepted digital infrastructure server hosted by Amazon Web Services, property of Meplaylist Classic Entertainment.
According to the prosecution, the defendant caused the said Meplaylist Classic Entertainment Ltd. loss of property, by altering Amazon Web services, which restricted the rightful owner access to its server.
He alleged that the defendant inputted his email address ayodeji.oye@meplaylist.com, and allegedly built a mobility startup called Hellobikee, for purposes of conferring economic benefits to himself.
The defendant was also alleged to have fraudulently made use of the electronic unique identification feature of Meplaylist, through his email, for purposes of conferring economic benefits to himself.
The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 12(1), 16(1), and 22(2)(a) of the Cybercrime ( Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015.
The court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum.
The court held that the defendant shall remain in the correctional facility, pending perfection of all conditions of bail as spelt out by the court.
He adjourned the case until Jan. 21, 2025, for trial.
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