The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh charge against the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The charge accuses Emefiele of approving the printing of N684,590,000 at the rate of N18.96 billion, allegedly breaking the law with intent to harm the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The anti-graft agency also accuses Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
The document dated April 2, 2024, and marked Suit No: CR/264/2024, was filed by EFCC’s top prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, revealing that Emefiele will be arraigned on a new four-count charge before Justice Hamza Muazu. The charges include disobeying the law to punish Nigerians, illegal printing of money, abuse of office, among others.
The charges against Emefiele include knowingly disobeying the direction of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of various denominations of currency without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The charges allege that this conduct caused injury to the public, constituting an offense under the Penal Code Law.
Emefiele was previously arraigned before the court on six counts of procurement fraud and accused of abusing his office by approving contracts for the acquisition of vehicles totalling N1.2 billion from 2018 to 2020. The EFCC also arraigned him alongside one Henry Omoile for an alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud.
