EFCC, Emefiele differ over evidence in alleged fraudulent $6.23m CBN withdrawal, contract fraud trial

Former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, has petitioned the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to dismiss $6.23 million procurement fraud charges against him. Emefiele's lead counsel, Mathew Burkaa, argued that the prosecution's case lacked sufficient evidence to establish that Emefiele had benefited from the transactions or manipulated the Tender Board Committee.

The prosecution alleged that Emefiele conferred unfair advantages on his close associates, including his wife and in-law, by awarding contracts to two companies, April 1616 and Archetekon. Burkaa contended that the evidence showed the companies won the contracts because they bid less than others, not due to any manipulation or guidance by Emefiele.

The case also involved forged signatures and documents, with former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, testifying that his and former President Muhammadu Buhari's signatures were forged. Oyedepo, opposing the no case submission, argued that Emefiele had used his position to confer unfair advantages on Archetekon, and the $6.23 million withdrawn from the CBN was a breach of trust. The judge reserved his ruling on the no case submission for a later date.