Former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele might not be released earlierĀ as thought. This recent development came after the Federal Government debunked the involvement in a reported 50 billion Naira plea bargain.
Emefiele had allegedly struck a deal with the authorities, proposing to hand over a colossal sum of 50 billion Naira in exchange for his swift release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). This purported arrangement was believed to be a bid to evade prosecution for charges encompassing money laundering, violations of the Public Procurement Act, and misuse of his office.
However, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, has dismissed the existence of any such agreement. Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has made it clear that neither his office nor the Presidency has engaged in such negotiations with Emefiele.
The Federal Government’s stance on this matter has been firmly communicated through a statement issued by Mrs. Modupe Ogundoro, the Director of Information in the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The statement reads: āThe attention of the office of the AGF and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a report alleging Emefiele and the Federal Government have agreed to a non-prosecution plea bargain arrangement.
āThe office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, hereby, states clearly that these reports are completely false. We wish to advise the media and members of the public to kindly disregard the said false report.ā