Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on fresh charges of stealing, forgery and unlawful acquisition of the recovered 753 housing units.
Penpushing reports that in the eight fresh charges the commission accused Emefiele of unlawfully acquiring an estate with 753 housing units and keeping possession of billions of naira in proxy accounts, while he was serving as the governor of the apex bank.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) connived with Eric Ocheme to acquire the properties in August 2021.
Penpushing further reports that the agency said the estate is located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, FCT, Abuja measuring 150,462.86 SQM. The estate comprised 753 housing units.
The commission alleged in the latest in the series of trials Emefiele is facing since his removal from office in 2023. that between January and December 2019 in Abuja, he domiciled N167 million in a proxy account with Zenith Bank.
Penpushing also reports that the prosecutors said the sum is suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, while it is recalled that the commission had earlier obtained a court order to seize the entire estate and handed over the estate to the Nigerian government last month.
The embattled for Governor of the apex bank, however, approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, praying it to set aside the judgement granting the government full control of the estate in Abuja comprising 753 housing units.
Penpushing reports that Emefiele who is currently standing trial before two judges in Abuja and another one in Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the latest charges, while his counsel Matthew Bukar earlier arguing his bail application contended that the defendant is a well-known figure standing trial in three other courts, where he has consistently attended trial while on bail.
The prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, pleaded with the court to set bail conditions other than the ones imposed by other judges in the other trials taking into cognisance the peculiarity of the case.
Penpushing further reports that the judge, Yusuf Halilu, subsequently granted him bail agreeing with the grounds canvassed by the defence lawyer and ordered Emefiele to produce two sureties who must be resident in Abuja.
The judge in same vein, ordered that each of the sureties must possess landed properties valued at N2 billion in any of Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Life Camp areas of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) .
“The defendant has been arraigned before (judges) Hamza Muazu and Maryanne Anenih, was granted bail and there is no information that he has jumped bail…the defendant has demonstrated utmost good faith’, Halilu said.
Penpushing also reports that he stated that the sureties are to ensure the defendant’s presence in court throughout his trial and warned that failure of the defendant to attend trial could earn his sureties an imprisonment and forfeiture of their properties put forward as bail bonds.
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