Court fixes May 15 for EFCC to arraign Emefiele on fresh charge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on May 15, 2024, arraign the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on three counts amended charge.

In the fresh charge filed against him, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele disobeyed the direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

The arraignment was earlier slated before Justice Maryann Anenih.

However, all the parties were not present in court when the matter with case number: CR/264/2024 was called on Tuesday, April 30.

The court said the prosecution sent a letter seeking adjournment because Emefiele was standing trial in another court in Lagos.

CBN director: How I collected $600,000 contract bribe for Emefiele

The judge therefore adjourned until May 15 for the arraignment.

Emefiele is also standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court on an alleged 20-count amended charge preferred against him by the EFCC.

He was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence when he served as the CBN Governor.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court, on January 8, awarded N100 million damages to Emefiele against the federal government and EFCC for violations of his rights.

Adeniyi further restrained the federal government and its agents from arresting Emefiele unless an order was obtained through a competent court.

The judge held that the respondents need not incarcerate the applicant in order to carry out an investigation for a long period as against the provisions of the law.

Emefiele had dragged the federal government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the EFCC Chairman, and the anti-graft agency before the court to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement.

The Star