By Oluwatosin Maliki
The Federal Government has categorically refuted claims of signing a N50 billion non-prosecution plea bargain with the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
According to reports, the former governor was said to have signed a deal with the government, on the condition that he would pay N50 billion to bail himself out of the custody of the Department of the State Service (DSS).
In addition, the negotiation was also said to cancel the trial of the former CBN Governor based on several charges including; money laundering, breach of the Public Procurement Act and abuse of office.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, however, said that there was no iota of truth in the plea bargain deal.
He further stressed that his office and that of the president have nothing to do with the plea deal.
The Director of Information in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Modupe Ogundoro, released a statement, which explained the Federal Government stance on the matter.
The statement partly reads, “The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, have agreed to a non- prosecution plea bargain arrangement”.
“The report further alleges that Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, have signed a non-prosecution plea bargain agreement and that the agreement is awaiting the signature of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
In addition, “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice hereby states clearly that these reports are completely false”.
“It would be noted that the legal team representing Mr. Godwin Emefiele had expressed their intention in court at the last hearing to initiate a plea bargain arrangement”.
“However, no such arrangement has been reached with Mr. Godwin Emefiele or his representatives. We wish to advise the media and members of the public to kindly disregard the said false report”.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will continue to take all actions in the interest of the Nigerian public.”