The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Godwin Emefiele, the immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The anti-graft agency, acting on behalf of the Federal Government, re-arrested Emefiele on a 20-count charge of corrupt benefit, forgery, and acquiring by false pretense.
However, Emefiele pled not guilty to the charge that was read to him in open court.
On November 17, 2023, the EFCC arraigned Emefiele before Justice Muazu on a six-count accusation of giving an advantage to a female CBN employee in violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000.
In charge CR/577/2023, Emefiele was accused of exploiting his position as CBN governor to grant six different contracts totaling N1,210,600,000 to Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero, a CBN employee, between 2018 and 2020.
The procurement contracts were awarded to April 16 Investment Ltd, of whom Sa’adatu Ramalan Yero is a director.
While the prosecution preserved the prior six counts against the former CBN chairman, it added 14 more to the accusation.
Following his no-guilt plea, prosecuting lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo SAN requested a trial date.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Burkaa SAN, argued with the court to enable his client to continue enjoying the bail that was granted him on November 22, 2023.
The prosecution did not oppose to the application. However, Oyedepo stated that the prosecution was solely interested in Emefiele appearing in court for trial.
The court then ordered the former CBN governor to continue to enjoy his bail as previously granted.