Ganduje faces Fresh Charges

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma The Kano State Government on Tuesday filed fresh charge against former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje. In the charge sheet with case No. K/143c/24, the state government accused Ganduje and erstwhile Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, of Criminal Conspiracy, and misappropriation contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as amended) CAP 105, Vol. 2, the Laws of Kano State of Nigeria. The offence, the state government said, is contrary punishable under Section 97 and Section 315. The state government accused Ganduje and Lawan of abuse of office. In the charge sheet, the state government said it intends to present four witnesses. No date has been fixed for the arraignment.

More Troubles for Emefiele as FG amends charges

Fresh troubles appear to be in the offing for former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele as the Federal Government again amended the charges against him on offences allegedly committed while in office. The earlier charges have been increased from six to 20, bordering on forgery, conferring of corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust among others. The Federal Government had initially filed 19 charges against the former CBN governor bordering on N6.9bn procurement fraud but pruned it down to six to the tune of N1.2bn which he is currently standing trial on. In the amended charge, Emefiele was accused of obtaining the sum of $6.2m by pretence by falsely representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The government said the offence was contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act. The charge read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult, and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (Still at large) on or about the 8th day of February 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly obtained by false pretence, the sum of Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United State Dollar ($6,230,000.00) by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated 26th January, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 “in line with Mr. President’s directive” which representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence.” He was also accused of conniving with one Eric Ocheme who has been at large to commit forgery. The government said the offence was contrary to section 96 (1) and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 Laws Federation, 1990. It read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult, and Odoh, Eric Ocheme (Still at large) sometime in January 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: forgery of a document titled: RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and you thereby committed an offence.” Emefiele was also accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his wife Omoile Margret and Brother In-law Omoile Macombo by awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8m. The government said the offence was contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. The charge read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in March 2020 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on your wife, Omoile Margret, and brother-in-law Omoile Macombo by awarding a contract for the external renovation of the CBN Governor’s Residence lying, being and situate at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in the sum of 99,826,452.47 to Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders and you thereby committed an offence. ” Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Bukka, SAN, pleaded with the court for time, adding that the amended charge was served on them on Wednesday. The trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, adjourned the matter till Friday January 19, for fresh plea of Emefiele to be taken in the new charges.

Fresh Charges: Second defendant’s absence stalls Emefiele’s re-arraignment

*Case adjourned till August 23 The re-arraignment of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank Governor, on a new 20-count charge related to a breach of the Procurement Act, was brought to a standstill on Thursday due to the non-appearance of the second defendant, Sa’adatu Yaro. The trial, which was scheduled to take place at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, was postponed to a later date. Upon the commencement of the proceedings, Emefiele appeared in court, but the Director of Public Procurement (DPP), Abubakar Mohammed, representing the government, informed the court that the second defendant was not present. Mohammed explained that Sa’adatu Yaro, the 2nd defendant, had fallen ill that morning and was unable to attend the court session. He consequently requested an adjournment from the court. Justice Hamza Muazu, presiding over the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, granted the adjournment, rescheduling the arraignment to August 23. It is worth noting that just the previous day, the federal government withdrew the charges involving illegal firearm possession that had been leveled against Emefiele at the Federal High Court in Lagos. However, the government subsequently filed a fresh 20-count charge against him and his associates, accusing them of being involved in a N6.9 billion procurement fraud. The case was filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja. Emefiele is facing these charges alongside Sa’adatu Yaro, a female employee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and her company, April1616 Investment Limited. The charges include allegations of procurement fraud, conspiracy, and conferring corrupt advantages upon associates. The prosecution contends that Emefiele, the former CBN Governor, granted corrupt advantages to Yaro, who is a director at April 1616 Investment Ltd. These actions are believed to be in violation of section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. If found guilty, Emefiele could face a prison sentence of up to five years without the option of a fine. The charges, signed by officials including the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, and Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs. N Jones-Nebo, detail accusations that the accused individuals collectively acquired a fleet of over 98 luxury vehicles and armored buses, valued at approximately N6.9 billion, between 2018 and 2020. The purchases included 84 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 10 armored Mercedes Benz buses, three Toyota Landcruisers, and one Toyota Avalon car. Emefiele is specifically accused of using his position as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer corrupt advantages upon Sa’adatu Yaro, awarding contracts to her company. The charges highlight various instances of this alleged misconduct involving the procurement of vehicles and other items. The trial proceedings have now been temporarily halted due to the illness of the second defendant, Sa’adatu Yaro, and are set to resume on August 23, when Emefiele and his co-defendants will face the fresh charges in court.