The trial of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of Nigeria’s central bank, which revolves around an alleged 6.9 billion naira ($9 million) procurement fraud, has once again encountered a delay.
Surprisingly, the proceedings were absent from the docket at the High Court in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Both Mr. Emefiele’s legal team and the prosecuting entity, the State Security Service (DSS), were notably absent from the courtroom, leaving the reasons for this absence undisclosed.
Despite the trial’s prominence, neither the DSS, often referred to as Nigeria’s secret police, nor any official representative, has responded to the BBC’s inquiry regarding the matter.
The previous week, a planned arraignment was similarly postponed due to the non-appearance of a co-defendant, Sa’adatu Yaro.
Godwin Emefiele is facing a set of 20 charges levied by the DSS, encompassing allegations of “procurement fraud, conspiracy, and granting corrupt advantages to his associates.” The trial’s progression remains uncertain amidst these recent setbacks.
