The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed additional charges against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, raising the number of charges from six to 20.
The new charges are in connection with alleged forgery, conferring of corrupt advantages, and criminal breach of trust.
Emefiele is currently on trial for misappropriating N1.2 billion, and the new charges could land him in even more trouble. These developments come at a time when Emefiele is already facing scrutiny over his handling of the country’s currency, the naira.
The government has accused Emefiele of obtaining $6.2 million by false pretense, alleging that he misrepresented himself as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
This, according to the government, constitutes a violation of Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. If found guilty, Emefiele could face up to 15 years in prison.
The charges against Emefiele come at a time when the Nigerian economy is already struggling, and his alleged actions could have a significant impact on the country’s currency and economy.
The charge alleges that on or about February 8, 2023, Emefiele and his alleged accomplice, Odoh Eric Ocheme, fraudulently obtained $6.2 million by claiming to have a letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation authorizing the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a “contingent logistic advance” of that amount.
The charge further alleges that Emefiele knew this representation to be false. The charge claims that Emefiele and Ocheme committed an offense by committing this act, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Emefiele was also accused of forging a letter purporting to be from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which allegedly requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a “contingent logistic advance” in the amount of $6.2 million.
The government alleged that Emefiele, along with Eric Ocheme, who is still at large, committed this offense. The government claims that this act violates the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990, which prohibits the forgery of documents. The government alleges that Emefiele and Ocheme’s actions were in violation of this statute, and that they should be held responsible for their actions.
The penalties for this offense include imprisonment and/or a fine. The case against Emefiele is likely to continue in the coming weeks and months, as the government presents its evidence and Emefiele’s legal team mounts a defense. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the country’s financial sector as a whole.
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