Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has urged the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to bar the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from calling additional witnesses after 10 had testified in his ongoing procurement fraud trial.
Emefiele’s lead counsel, Matthew Burkaa SAN, contended that since EFCC listed only 10 witnesses in the proof of evidence it filed in court, it should not be allowed to call additional witnesses.
But the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, opposed the application, asserting that further testimonies were necessary to ensure a fair and thorough presentation of the case.
Oyedepo argued that denying the agency the ability to call additional witnesses would infringe on their right to a fair hearing.
After taking arguments from sides on Monday, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned till March 20 for ruling.
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Emefiele who is facing 20 counts, bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery and conspiracy in the charge was also accused of using his position as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantages on two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
However, during proceedings, EFCC’s 10th witness, Salawu Gana, said the award of contract to April 1616 for the procurement of vehicles for the CBN adhered to procurement laws and the CBN guidelines.
Fielding questions during cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Gana said the CBN’s Procurement Department evaluated the quotations submitted by the bidders, vetted the submissions, and resolved to award the contract to April 1616 because its quotation was the lowest
Meanwhile, the Head of the Procurement Unit at the time, Gana,stressed that Emefiele was not a member of the CBN Tenders Board.
He admitted that neither he nor the five procurement officers who recommended April 1616 for the award had been charged by the EFCC.
Gana also said he had not seen any evidence or document showing that money was paid from April 1616’s bank account to Emefiele.
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