A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has reserved its ruling on a no-case submission filed by Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in his ongoing trial over an alleged $6.23 million fraud.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Hamza Muazu reserved the ruling on Tuesday after lawyers to Emefiele and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) adopted their written addresses on whether the former CBN Governor should be required to enter his defence.
Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, urged the court to uphold the no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish the essential elements of the offences charged against his client.
The defence maintained that EFCC had not presented sufficient evidence to show that Emefiele conferred undue advantage on his wife and associates through contracts awarded by the apex bank.
However, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to EFCC, urged the court to dismiss the application, arguing that the evidence presented by the prosecution established a prima facie case requiring Emefiele to defend himself against the allegations.
Oyedepo alleged that Emefiele used his position as CBN Governor to confer undue advantage on companies linked to his associates, including Architekon Nigeria Limited and April 1616 Nigeria Limited.
The prosecution argued that some contracts were awarded without the required scrutiny by the CBN’s Major Contracts Tender Board and that the process allegedly denied other contractors a fair opportunity to compete.
It also relied on evidence of approval signatures, corporate records and financial transactions which it said linked Emefiele to the companies involved.
The case also involves the alleged withdrawal of $6.23 million from the CBN in February 2023, purportedly for foreign election observers during the 2023 general election.
The EFCC alleged that the funds were obtained through letters bearing forged signatures attributed to former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
The prosecution further alleged that the money was released without reaching the intended beneficiaries and that part of the funds was used to renovate a property linked to Emefiele.
Emefiele is facing an amended 20-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.
The former CBN Governor has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A no-case submission is an application by a defendant asking the court to discharge him without requiring a defence on the grounds that the prosecution has failed to present sufficient evidence to warrant one.
The court said the date for its ruling would be communicated to the parties.
