The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for approving the printing of N684.5m notes at the rate of N18.96bn.
In the fresh 4 count 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.
it was gahered that the former CBN governor will be arraigned on these counts before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court, Abuja on April 30.
This arraignment will bring to three the number of charges pending against the former CBN governor.
On Nov. 17, 2023, Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu on a 6 count charge of procurement fraud to which he pleaded not guilty.
He was also accused of abusing his office by approving a contract for the acquisition of 43 vehicles totalling N1.2 billion from 2018 to 2020.
It would be recalled that on April 8, 2024, the EFCC also arraigned the former banker alongside one Henry Omoile before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud.
He’s also pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The new charge, dated April 2, 2024, was filed by the EFFC prosecutor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo alongside 8 other lawyers acting on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Counts one to four of the charge, read: “STATEMENT OF OFFENCE: Public Servant disobeying direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990.