In a recent development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh 4 count charge against Godwin Emefiele, alleging his deliberate disregard of legal directives resulting in harm to the public during the implementation of the naira swap policy under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Additionally, the anti-graft agency accuses Emefiele of improperly authorizing the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. Sources indicate that the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor will face these charges before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court, Abuja on April 30, marking the third set of charges against him.
Previously, on Nov. 17, 2023, Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu on a 6 count charge related to procurement fraud, to which he pleaded not guilty. He was also accused of misconduct in office by approving a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles totaling N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
Moreover, on April 8, 2024, the EFCC brought charges against the former banker alongside Henry Omoile before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, regarding an alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud, to which he also pleaded not guilty.
The latest charge, dated April 2, 2024, was filed by the EFCC prosecutor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, along with 8 other attorneys representing the Attorney General of the Federation.
Counts one to four of the charge pertain to the offense of a public servant disobeying legal directives with the intention to harm the public, as stipulated under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990. These counts outline specific instances where Emefiele allegedly disregarded the directives of the CBN Act, 2007, causing harm to the public.