In a significant development in the procurement fraud case against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, prosecution witness Mr. Stephen Gana testified in an Abuja High Court on Monday about preferential treatment given to Emefiele’s companies during vehicle procurement contract bidding.
Key Testimonies
Gana, who served as the former Head of the Procurement Department at CBN, confirmed under cross-examination by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, that he was present when contracts for vehicles, detailed in Exhibits F4 to F45, were approved.
- Preferential Treatment: Gana stated that two companies linked to Emefiele received favorable conditions in the bidding process. He detailed that the CBN acquired Toyota vehicles for a total of N99,900,000 from April “1616” Company Ltd through direct procurement.
- Selective Bidding: He also testified that two Toyota Hilux vehicles were procured for N23,100,000 each through selective bidding. Gana explained that April “1616” Company Ltd was awarded the contract after submitting the lowest bid, which matched the CBN’s in-house estimate.
- Procurement Process: Gana elaborated on the procurement process at CBN, stating that contracts could be awarded either through direct procurement or selective bidding, guided by the Director of Procurement, Deputy Director, Head of Procurement (himself), and the procurement officer.
After Gana’s testimony, the prosecution requested an adjournment for the case, proposing a new date different from the previously scheduled date of October 22.
Implications
This testimony adds weight to the allegations of procurement fraud against Emefiele, highlighting potential irregularities in the vehicle procurement contracts that could have implications for the integrity of CBN’s procurement practices. The ongoing case is closely monitored as it unfolds in the courts.