Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has asked the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, from calling additional witnesses in his ongoing procurement fraud trial.
Emefiele’s lead counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, argued that since the EFCC had only listed 10 witnesses in the proof of evidence it filed with the court, it should not be allowed to call any more.
However, the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, opposed the application, stating that additional testimony was necessary for a fair and complete presentation of the case.
Oyedepo further argued that preventing the agency from calling more witnesses would infringe on its right to a fair hearing.
After hearing arguments from both sides on Monday, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case until March 20 for a ruling.
Emefiele faces 20 charges, including criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy in the case marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.
He is accused of using his position as CBN governor to grant undue and corrupt advantages to two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
During Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC’s 10th witness, Salawu Gana, testified that the contract awarded to April 1616 for the procurement of vehicles for the CBN followed proper procurement laws and CBN guidelines.
Gana, who was the Head of the Procurement Unit at the time, explained that the CBN Procurement Department evaluated the bids, and April 1616 was selected because its quotation was the lowest.
He further stated that Emefiele only approved the contract award based on the CBN Tenders Board’s recommendations.
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Gana confirmed that the vehicles were supplied, and April 1616 was paid in accordance with the board’s recommendations for Emefiele’s approval.
He emphasized that Emefiele was not a member of the CBN Tenders Board.
Under cross-examination, Gana admitted that neither he nor the five procurement officers who recommended April 1616 for the contract had been charged by the EFCC.
He also testified that there was no evidence showing that money had been paid from April 1616’s account to Emefiele.
Gana further confirmed that, based on the company’s registration certificate, Emefiele was not listed as a director, shareholder, or signatory to April 1616’s bank account.
Gana also testified that Emefiele did not influence the procurement process, stating that he reported directly to his supervisor, Mr. Ekanem Akpan, and not to Emefiele.
EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, introduced several exhibits related to the bidding processes for 45 different contracts involving vehicle supplies to the CBN by April 1616, RT Briscoe, and Globe Motors.
During his testimony, Gana reiterated that April 1616 was awarded the contracts based on its submission of the lowest quotations.
Crediblenewsng.com
