By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has accused former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Mr Godwin Emefiele of $6.2m theft.
He was accused of collaborating with Odoh Ocheme, said to be currently evading authorities.
The former CBN Governor was said to have acquired $6.2 million from the CBN under false pretences.
The funds were needed at the behest of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), referencing a letter dated January 26, 2023, with the reference number SGF.43/L.01/201.
According to the EFCC, Emefiele purportedly stated that the SGF had requested the CBN to release “$6,230,000.00 as a contingent logistic advance in line with former Mr. President Mohammadu Buhari’s directive.
The anti-graft agency said Emefiele, in January 2023, falsified a document titled “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated January 26, 2023, with reference number SGF.43/L.01/201, and colluded with Ocheme to perpetrate this act of forgery.
During the recent court proceedings, Ogbu, the Deputy Director overseeing Branch Operations at the CBN, testified that he was aware of a request for a $6.2 million payment designated for international election observers. Ogbu disclosed that this payment request came to his attention on January 8, 2023.
In his testimony, Ogbu stated, “Our role is to facilitate payment; we lack the authority to approve. Upon reviewing the documents and finding them satisfactory, I endorsed them and initiated processing and disbursement, as instructed.”
He further elaborated, “When I received the document, I found that it was from the Banking Services Department. The Director, Banking Services signed the memo, and the content of the memo contained an instruction for the Branch Controller to pay the sum of $6,230,000 to a staff of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, with the identity and the name of the person mentioned.”
“The memo said the payment was for international election observers and that we should debit an account – Naira Forex Account – with the naira equivalent of $6,230,000.”
“The memo also said that the money will be refunded in the second quarter of 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Finance.”
