Alleged N6.9bn Fraud: Suspended CBN Governor, Emefiele Begs for Negotiation Deal As Brothers Withdraw Case against FG

Family of embattled Central Bank of Nigeria suspended governor, Godwin Emefiele have approached the Federal government for a political solution to the alleged N6.9 billion fraud leveled against their brother.

Emefiele’s trial was on Wednesday stalled at the High Court of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following his plan to enter into plea bargaining to get soft-landing, according to sources.

Emefiele is facing 20 counts of conspiracy and procurement fraud levelled against him by the FG. He was on August 17, 2023, brought to court under tight security.

He was scheduled to be arraigned today (Wednesday) and take his plea before the presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, but the case was not listed in the cause list.

No official reason was given by the court or the lawyers but findings revealed that Emefiele had agreed to enter into plea bargaining with the prosecutor in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

According to his lawyers, Emefiele opted to enter into plea bargaining with the prosecution team.

Meanwhile, the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by two brothers of the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been withdrawn.

The court’s vacation judge, Justice Emmanuel Okpe, struck out the suit on Wednesday after the applicants through their lawyer informed the court of their decision to discontinue the case.

The suspended CBN governor’s siblings – George Emefiele and Okanta Emefiele, had filed separate ex-parte motions at the court seeking order of the court to enforce their fundamental rights to freedom of movement among others by issuing perpetual injunction restraining the DSS from inviting, intimidating, harassing and arresting or detaining them in relation “to matters or body of matters which relates to the ongoing investigation of Mr. Godwin Emefiele and/or matters outside the constitutional and statutory mandate of the 1st respondent (DSS)”.

However, at the resumed hearing of the cases on Wednesday, counsel for the applicants, Grace Ehusani, informed the court that the applicants separately filed notice of discontinuance of the case.