*Tinubu Lauds Obazee As Special Investigator Concludes Probe Of CBN
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would on Monday, April 8, arraign the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court for alleged abuse of office.
Emefiele would be arraigned alongside one Henry Omoile on a 26-count bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption and fraudulent property receipt.
The former CBN governor was also alleged to have conferred corrupt advantage on his associates, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000, according to the charge sheet, marked ID/23787c/2024, dated April 3 and filed by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
The counts stated that Emefiele allegedly committed abuse of office between 2022 and last year in Lagos, an offence punishable under Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011; that Emefiele directed to be done in abuse of the authority of his office, as the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2.2billion without bids.
Also, it was alleged that Emefiele abused the authority of his office by allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291million without bids, which act was prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.
His co-defendant was alleged to have acted as an agent and accepted from Raja Punjab, through Monday Osazuwa, the total sum of $110,000 for the ex-CBN as a reward for allocating foreign exchange by the CBN in favour of Punjab’s employer.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has commended the Special Investigator appointed to examine the books of the apex bank under Emefiele, Jim Obazee, for the dedication and professionalism he exhibited in handling the complexities of the critical national assignment.
This followed the conclusion of the assignment and submission of a final comprehensive report, thus winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task, which ended on March 31, this year, with all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies already conducting follow-up action.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, further commended Obazee for answering the call of duty, while wishing him success in his future endeavours.
Recall that the President in appointing Obazee, directed him to “ take immediate steps to ensure the strengthening and integrity of crucial Government Business Entities (GBEs), further block leakages, in CBN and related GBEs.”
He was also charged to “investigate the CBN and related entities using a suitably experienced, competent and capable team and work with relevant security and anti-corruption agencies to deliver on this assignment.”
