The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new corruption charges against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, linking him to five firms. Yesterday, it was revealed that four of these firms have addresses in Lagos.
Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, asserted their innocence in response to a 26-count charge filed at the Ikeja Special Offences Court. Justice Rahman Oshodi remanded the former CBN governor in EFCC’s custody, deferring ruling on the bail application until today due to the additional public holiday for Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Among the companies named in the charge are NIPCO Plc, Source Computer Limited, Limelight Multidimensional Services Limited, and Comec Support Services Limited. NIPCO Plc’s website indicates its location at 1 & 15 Dockyard Road, Apapa.
The fifth firm implicated is Andswin Resources and Solutions Limited. Emefiele allegedly received funds from various entities, including $26,552,000 from NIPCO Plc through Donatone Limited and sums from The Source Computer.
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The EFCC alleges that Emefiele granted financial benefits to Limelight Multidimensional Services Limited and Comec Support Services Limited through approved payments. Additionally, he is accused of abusing his position to benefit Andswin Resources and Solutions Limited.
The charges detail Emefiele’s alleged allocation of foreign exchange totaling N2.1 billion without proper bidding procedures, deemed prejudicial to Nigerians’ rights. This marks the second case against Emefiele, following an earlier indictment by a special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
Emefiele, who also faces a pending case in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, has pleaded not guilty. The charges include abuse of office and irregular allocation of significant sums during his tenure as CBN governor.