NewsOnline Nigeria reports that an investigator from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Agboro Omowera told the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday that the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele and nine other officials at the apex bank were involved in approving multi-billion contracts to his wife, Margaret, brother-in-law and staff of the apex bank, Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro.
According to the investigator, nine CBN staff minuted on the documents while Emefiele approved them.
Omowera told Justice Hamza Muazu that Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro, a director at April 1616 Investment Ltd, was awarded several contracts by the CBN under the purview of Emefiele, for the supply of over 45 Toyota Hilux Vehicles ranging from N854, 700,000, to N99,900,000.
He also testified that Emefiele’s wife, Margaret, and his brother-in-law were directors and major shareholders at Architecom Nigeria Ltd, a company that was contracted by the apex bank to renovate the CBN governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos state.
Led in evidence by counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, the witness explained that after Emefiele was appointed CBN governor in 2014, the company where his wife owned majority shares started enjoying the patronage of the CBN.
He added that his investigative team comprising of different agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), also found out that the husband of Yaro, had other companies but they were not patronised by CBN except the one in which the wife was a director.
The witness submitted that during its investigation, the embattled governor gave final approval, awarding contracts to the two companies for the supply of vehicles, renovation of the CBN governor’s residence, and provision of power lines.
Omowera said,
Under cross-examination by Matthew Burkaa, Emefiele’s lawyer, the witness was asked, “Did he(Emefiele) confer corrupt advantage on himself?”
He was asked if he interviewed some people at CBN to determine whether the contracts were implemented.
The witness said he interviewed some people but added he could not specifically verify whether the execution of the contracts is contained in the team’s investigative report.
He also said he did not visit the CBN governor’s residence in Lagos during his investigation, to determine if the contract awarded to Architecom Nigeria Ltd was executed.
The investigator agreed that it was not wrong to pay contractors if they had done what they were supposed to do.
The witness also admitted that it was the procurement department of the CBN that handled the contracts awarded to April 1616 and Architecom Nigeria Ltd.
He also confirmed that it is the duty of the tenders committee in CBN, of which Emefiele is not a member, to vet, review, and recommend contracts at the apex bank including the two companies in dispute.
The witness also admitted the defence team was right to say he does not know if the laid down procedures at the CBN were followed in awarding the contracts.
But the witness added,
The witness also confirmed Emefiele told him that his wife was part of Architecom Nigeria Ltd but added he could not remember if he said his wife was not a director in the company.
Afterwards, Justice Muazu fixed April 25 for the continuation of the trial.
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