Joseph Bakare
The Prosecution Witness, (PW10), Stephen Salau Gana, in the trial of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele has disclosed before Justice Hamza Mu’azu of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) High Court Maitama, Abuja, that the company, April 16 16 Investment Limited, belonging to Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, a staff of the apex bank was awarded a contract for the supply of vehicles to the CBN, valued at N99.9 million by direct procurement without a competitive bidding process.
Led in his testimony by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, the witness who was head of CBN’s Procurement Office during Emefiele’s tenure, revealed that a CBN governor’s threshold of contract approval was N100 million and that direct procurement was adopted only in cases where there was only one sole manufacturer, distributor or representative, or in cases of emergency or where the goods are available from only one source, adding, however, that none of these conditions applied to April 16 16 in the contract award.
“April 16 16 was neither the sole manufacturer nor the sole distributor,” he told the court upon enquiry by the prosecuting counsel. Responding to a further enquiry on the possibility of April 16 16 having an exclusive dealership right on the vehicles supplied, he said, “No, they don’t have such rights.”
While the witness’s role as head of CBN’s Procurement Office was to provide leadership and oversee the procurement of goods and services, he told the court that he took no steps towards ascertaining if April 16 16 was the only available vehicle vendor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Emefiele before Justice Mua’zu on amended 20-count charges bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, conferment of corrupt advantages, forgery, and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars).
The case was adjourned to November 13, 2024, for continuation of trial.
