Alleged procurement fraud: FG fails to arraign Emefiele, co-defendant

The Federal Government has again failed to arraign the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who is being accused of alleged procurement fraud.

THEWILL reports that the Federal Government had filed 20 charges bothering on alleged procurement fraud against Emefiele, a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited.

According to the charges, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar; Deputy Director, Public Prosecution, Mrs Nkiru Jones-Nebo and eight other ministry officials, the Federal Government is accusing Emefiele of procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu, had on Tuesday, August 17, adjourned until Wednesday, August 23, the arraignment of the defendants after the Federal Government failed to produce the second defendant (Sa’adatu Yaro Yaro) in Court, who was said to have been indisposed.

But at the resumption of court proceedings on Wednesday, the matter was not listed on the cause list of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

Although THEWILL can not immediately confirm the reason for the court action, Emefiele’s lawyer, Kehinde Akinlolu (SAN), who confirmed the shift in the arraignment of the defendants, said a new date may likely be issued by the Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf.