Reports suggesting that a key witness in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, defended controversial vehicle procurement contracts have been dismissed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement released on Tuesday, EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, debunked claims that Salawu Gana, a former head of CBN’s procurement department and a prosecution witness, justified the contract awards.
Instead, the agency maintained that Gana’s testimony exposed how inside information was allegedly leaked to April 1616, tilting the bidding process in its favour.
Testifying before Justice Hamza Muazu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 3, 2025, Gana detailed how procurement protocols were compromised.
According to him, while three companies—RT Briscoe, Globe Motors, and April 1616—were invited to bid, only April 1616 had prior knowledge of the estimated costs.
This advantage allegedly allowed the company to strategically place the lowest bid at ₦69 million, undercutting RT Briscoe’s ₦77,050,000 and Globe Motors’ ₦77,179,999.
Gana stated that this irregularity ultimately led to April 1616 securing the contract, which was later approved by Emefiele. The EFCC insists that the witness did not endorse the process but rather revealed how it was manipulated.
Emefiele currently faces 20 amended charges, including allegations of abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, conspiracy, and misappropriation of $6.23 million.
With court proceedings ongoing, the case continues to unfold as the EFCC pushes forward with its prosecution.