In a significant development in the trial involving the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, a key prosecution witness, Michael Agboro, made revealing statements during Monday’s session at the Federal Capital Territory High Court before Justice Hamza Muazu. Agboro, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7) called by the Federal Government, provided insights into the transactions and contract awards involving the CBN and Archtekon from April 1616.
During cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Burkaa, Agboro acknowledged that the transactions in question followed due process, as evidenced by documents obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) regarding Archtekon Nigeria Limited. However, he admitted uncertainty regarding whether any member of his investigative team had directly interviewed Emefiele’s wife regarding her involvement with Archtekon.
Agboro’s testimony also touched on the procurement procedures at the CBN, specifically regarding the award of contracts to April 1616 and Archtekon. He clarified that these contracts were awarded based on the legal requirement of accepting the lowest bids, affirming that both firms had submitted the least expensive proposals for their respective contracts.
In response to queries about Emefiele’s role in contract approval, Agboro emphasized that while Emefiele could approve contracts, the process involved various officers at different levels within the bank, ensuring checks and balances. When questioned further about Emefiele’s specific position within the CBN’s tender board or procurement department, Agboro admitted his lack of knowledge on the matter.
The proceedings also saw the court handling objections from the Federal Government regarding the admissibility of a document related to forgery allegations. This document, dated January 29, 2024, was a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a forensic report from the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police to the legal firm Nnenna Ozogwu and Co., which Emefiele sought to introduce.
Justice Hamza Muazu subsequently adjourned the proceedings to June 25 for further cross-examination of PW7, indicating the ongoing complexity and thoroughness of the legal process in this high-profile case.
This update underscores the meticulous scrutiny applied to the allegations against Emefiele, highlighting both the procedural adherence within the CBN and the judicial process’s meticulousness in examining the evidence presented.
