The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele on May 15 in a Federal Capital Territory court. This comes after the filing of a fresh charge against him alleging disobedience of the law and unlawful approval of fund withdrawal.
In the amended charge, the EFCC accuses Emefiele of causing injury to the public by disobeying legal directives during the implementation of the naira swap policy under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Additionally, it is alleged that he unlawfully approved the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
Initially slated before Justice Maryan Anenih, the arraignment faced a delay as all parties were absent from the court proceedings. The prosecution sought an adjournment due to Emefiele’s ongoing trial in another court in Lagos.
Emefiele is concurrently facing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court on a 20-count amended charge, also brought forward by the anti-graft agency. These charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy to obtain money by false pretense during his tenure as the apex bank’s governor.
In a separate legal battle, Emefiele secured a victory when Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court awarded him N100 million in damages against the Federal Government and the EFCC. The court restrained the government and its agents from arresting Emefiele without obtaining an order through a competent court, emphasizing his rights to fair investigation and legal process.
Emefiele had taken legal action against the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the EFCC, and its chairman to enforce his fundamental rights, citing unlawful detention and violation of constitutional provisions and international charters on human rights.