The latest development reveals that Emefiele faces charges for disobeying the law and causing harm to the public through his implementation of the naira swap policy.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in a Federal Capital Territory court on a three-count amended charge on May 15.
In the amended charge, the EFCC alleges that Emefiele violated legal directives with the intent to harm the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Additionally, the anti-graft agency accuses Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of ₦124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
Initially scheduled before Justice Maryann Anenih, the arraignment was postponed due to Emefiele’s ongoing trial in another court in Lagos. The case with case number CR/264/2024 has been adjourned until May 15.
Emefiele is already facing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT high court on a 20-count amended charge brought by the EFCC. The charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretense, and obtaining money by false pretense during his tenure as CBN governor.
Furthermore, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT high court awarded ₦100 million in damages to Emefiele against the federal government and EFCC for violating his rights. Adeniyi also restrained the government and its agents from arresting Emefiele without a court order, emphasizing the need to adhere to legal procedures during investigations.
Emefiele sought relief from the court, asserting that his prolonged detention without arraignment and the agency’s disregard for court orders constituted a grave infringement of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
