The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is gearing up to arraign former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on fresh charges related to the approval of printing N684.5 million in notes at the rate of N18.96 billion.
In the new four-count charge, the EFCC alleges that Emefiele disregarded the law, intending to harm the public, during the implementation of the naira swap policy under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Additionally, Emefiele is accused of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
According to information gathered by our judiciary correspondent, Shola Soyele, Emefiele will face these charges before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court, Abuja, on April 30. This will mark the third set of charges against the former CBN governor.
Previously, on November 17, 2023, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of procurement fraud before Justice Hamza Muazu. He was accused of abusing his office by approving a contract for the acquisition of 43 vehicles totaling N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
Furthermore, on April 8, 2024, the EFCC arraigned Emefiele alongside Henry Omoile before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, for an alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud. Emefiele pleaded not guilty to these charges as well.
The latest charge, dated April 2, 2024, was filed by EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, along with eight other lawyers on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Counts one to four of the charge accuse Emefiele of disobeying the law with intent to harm the public, in contravention of Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990. The particulars of the offences detail Emefiele’s approval of printing various denominations of naira notes without the requisite recommendations and approvals, causing injury to the public.
