ABUJA — An investigator with the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee, EFCC, on Monday instructed the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Excessive Court docket in Abuja that former Governor of the Central {Bank} of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, was not a signatory to the {bank} accounts of two firms allegedly used to acquire contracts from the apex {bank}.
The investigator, Mr. David Jaiyeoba, who appeared because the twelfth prosecution witness within the ongoing trial, made the disclosure throughout cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Mr. Matthew Burkaa, SAN.
Jaiyeoba instructed the court docket that the previous CBN governor was neither a signatory nor immediately linked to the accounts of April 1616 Nigeria Restricted, one of many corporations accused of benefiting from the contracts.
“My proof by no means talked about April 1616; nonetheless, the defendant shouldn’t be a signatory to the account of April 1616. I can’t bear in mind if he’s a director or shareholder,” the witness stated.
He additional acknowledged that Emefiele was neither a signatory, director nor shareholder in one other firm, Architekon Nigeria Restricted, which was additionally linked to the alleged contract offers.
The EFCC is prosecuting Emefiele on an amended cost bordering on legal breach of belief, forgery, acquiring by false pretence, procurement fraud and conspiracy.
The anti-graft company alleged that the previous CBN governor conferred corrupt benefits on two corporations — April 1616 Nigeria Restricted and Architekon Nigeria Restricted — within the award of contracts by the apex {bank}.
In response to the prosecution, April 1616 Nigeria Restricted allegedly belonged to Ms. Sa’adatu Ramalan-Yaro, stated to be an affiliate of Emefiele and a workers of the CBN.
A former Head of Procurement Division on the CBN, Mr. Salawu Gana, had earlier testified that details about bidding for CBN contracts was leaked to Ramalan-Yaro and the corporate.
Gana, who testified in February 2025 because the tenth prosecution witness, instructed the court docket that the alleged irregularities occurred between 2018 and 2020 when Emefiele was serving as governor of the apex {bank}.
Ramalan-Yaro was initially arraigned alongside Emefiele as a co-defendant within the matter. Nonetheless, following an modification to the cost in 2024, she was discharged from the trial, whereas the variety of counts in opposition to Emefiele was decreased.
Throughout Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC investigator additionally instructed the court docket that he didn’t personally interview the defendant through the course of the investigation.
In response to him, different members of the investigation workforce performed the interview with Emefiele.
He defined that the workforce was divided through the probe, with some members working from Lagos whereas others labored from Abuja.
“The Abuja workforce interacted with the officers due to proximity and distance,” Jaiyeoba stated.
He added that the EFCC’s findings had been largely primarily based on paperwork obtained through the investigation in addition to statements made by suspects arrested in reference to the case.
The witness additionally admitted that he didn’t go to the residence of the previous CBN governor or the renovation web site allegedly linked to Architekon Nigeria Restricted.
He additional instructed the court docket that he didn’t go to any of the venture places linked with the case.
Consequently, he stated the fee relied on statements made by the director of the corporate relating to the alleged renovation work.
Jaiyeoba additionally confirmed that he was conscious of a committee inside the CBN chargeable for vetting and dealing with the bidding course of for contracts however couldn’t recall its identify.
Sponsored
He stated he didn’t personally interview officers of the committee.
“My workforce did, however personally I used to be not a part of that interview as a result of the workforce needed to be divided,” he stated.
When requested whether or not Emefiele was a member of the Main Contract Tender Committee that dealt with the procurement course of on the CBN, the witness replied: “I can’t bear in mind.”
At that time, Burkaa questioned the witness’ understanding of the procurement course of on the apex {bank}.
Nonetheless, Jaiyeoba insisted that he understood the method, although he admitted he couldn’t say who within the CBN was chargeable for confirming whether or not an organization certified for a contract.
“I’m not a workers member, so I’d not know,” he stated.
In the course of the proceedings, the defence additionally confronted the witness with a judgment of the Court docket of Attraction which put aside an earlier forfeiture order on some properties allegedly linked to Emefiele.
The witness instructed the court docket he was seeing the judgment for the primary time however acknowledged that the EFCC was certain by the choice of the appellate court docket.
The properties earlier listed within the proceedings embody a indifferent duplex at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Road, Lekki Section 1, Lagos; a bungalow and an undeveloped plot measuring 1,919.592 sq. metres on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; and a four-bedroom duplex at 12A Probyn Highway, Ikoyi.
Others embody an industrial complicated underneath building on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; eight items of undetached flats on Adekunle Lawal Highway, Ikoyi; and one other indifferent duplex on {Bank} Highway, Ikoyi.
The witness had earlier testified {that a} lawyer linked to Emefiele was arrested with greater than $2 million in money. Nonetheless, underneath cross-examination, he confirmed that the previous CBN governor didn’t declare possession of the cash.
In the course of the proceedings, the defence additionally questioned the timeline of the investigation.
Burkaa famous that the EFCC filed prices in opposition to Emefiele on August 14, 2023, whereas the extrajudicial statements obtained from the defendant had been taken between October 26 and November 2, 2023.
He requested the witness whether or not the fee was nonetheless investigating the case after submitting the fees.
“I’m not conscious of these dates,” Jaiyeoba replied.
The witness additionally admitted that the defendant was not confronted with the assertion of one other suspect, Mr. Nwike, to acquire his response.
Earlier, the witness had instructed the court docket that the investigation was triggered by a report forwarded to the EFCC by an inter-agency activity pressure headed by the State Safety Service, SSS.
Following a request by the defence for the report back to be produced in court docket, the prosecution counsel, Mr. A. O. Mohammed, raised no objection.
Justice Hamza Muazu subsequently adjourned the matter till Tuesday for continuation of listening to.
SPONSORED