EFCC drags Emefiele, Omole to court on Monday on fresh 26-count

By Abiodun OBA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is on its way to court with the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele for alleged abuse of office over allocation of billions of United States dollars.

Emefiele alongside his co-defendant, one Henry Isioma Omole, will be arraigned on 26 counts before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Ikeja State High Court in Lagos on Monday, April 8, 2024.

The charge, marked ID/23787c/2024, dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

EFCC alleged that Emefiele committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, of abuse of office.

The commission alleged that Emefiele “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”

EFCC, further alleged that Emefiele between 2020 and 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary, act to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291,945,785.59, without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.

Emefiele was alleged to have, in 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $1,769,254,793.16, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”

In count four, the sum involved was $370,872,893.01.

Emefiele’s co-defendant Omoile  was alleged to have November 17, 2020, in Lagos, whilst acting as an agent accepted from Raja Punjab through Monday Osazuwa, the total sum of $110,000, for Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, gifts as reward for allocating foreign exchange by the Central Bank in favour of Raja Punjab’s employer.”

According to the charge the offences committed contravened Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.