Embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has urged the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to bar the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from calling additional witnesses after 10 had testified in his ongoing procurement fraud trial.
Emefiele’s lead counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), contended that since EFCC listed only 10 witnesses in the proof of evidence it filed in court, it should not be allowed to call additional witnesses.
But the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), opposed the application, asserting that further testimonies were necessary to ensure a fair and thorough presentation of the case.
Oyedepo argued that denying the agency the ability to call additional witnesses would infringe on their right to a fair hearing.
After taking arguments from sides on Monday, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned till March 20 for ruling.
Emefiele is facing 20 counts, bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery and conspiracy in the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.
He was also accused of using his position as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantages on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
However, during Monday’s proceedings, EFCC’s 10th witness, Salawu Gana, said the award of contract to April 1616 for the procurement of vehicles for the CBN adhered to procurement laws and the CBN guidelines.
Fielding questions during cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Gana said the CBN’s Procurement Department evaluated the quotations submitted by the bidders, vetted the submissions, and resolved to award the contract to April 1616 because its quotation was the lowest.
He added that Emefiele only approved the contract award based on the recommendations of the CBN Tenders Board.
The witness also confirmed that the vehicles were supplied, and the company, April 1616, was paid based on the recommendations of the board to Emefiele for approval.
Gana, who was the Head of the Procurement Unit at the time, stressed that Emefiele was not a member of the CBN Tenders Board.
He admitted that neither he nor the five procurement officers who recommended April 1616 for the award had been charged by the EFCC.
Gana also said he had not seen any evidence or document showing that money was paid from April 1616’s bank account to Emefiele.
He confirmed that, according to the company’s registration certificate, Emefiele was not a director, shareholder, or signatory to April 1616’s bank account.
Gana further testified that Emefiele did not direct or influence him, either through phone calls or SMS, to favour April 1616 in the procurement process, adding that he reported directly to his supervisor, Mr Ekanem Akpan, and not to Emefiele.
The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), presented bundles of exhibits related to the bidding processes for 45 different contracts for vehicle supplies to the CBN by April 1616, RT Briscoe, and Globe Motors.
During his evidence-in-chief, Gana reiterated that April 1616 was awarded the contracts because it submitted the lowest quotations.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
