N6.9bn procurement fraud:Emefiele, 2 others To be arraigned this Thursday 

The suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele will be arraigned  today, before the Federal Capital Territory High court, by the federal government over a fresh 20 count charge, bothering on procurement fraud allegations.

Emefiele will be arraigned alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited on 6.9 billion naira procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates.

This fresh charge is coming after the federal government announced its withdrawal of the charge on “illegal possession of firearms” before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, when the matter came up.

Emefiele is accused of conferring corrupt advantages on Yaro, a director in April 1616 Investment Ltd, an offense contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which holds a penalty of Five years imprisonment, without an option of fine.

The section reads, “Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five years without an option of fine.’’

In the charge, the three accused persons were alleged to have bought a fleet of over 98 exotic vehicles and armoured buses valued at about N6.9bn.

Some of the vehicles bought between 2018 and 2020 included 84 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 10 armoured Mercedes Benz buses, three Toyota Landcruisers and one Toyota Avalon car.

Emefiele, has been in detention since he was suspended from office on June 9 by President Bola Tinubu, before he was arraigned by the federal government before the federal high court in Lagos, over possession of illegal fire arms.