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Nigerian government files 20 amended charges against Emefiele

Published

4 months ago

January 18, 2024

The Nigerian government throught the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) has filed an amended 20-count charge against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

The new charges filed on Thursday at a Federal Capital Territory High Court include forgery, conferring of corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust among others.

The EFCC had dragged Emefiele to court earlier on six counts bordering on an alleged breach of procurement procedure in the award of the contract to April1616 Investment Limited.

EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on November 28 drew the attention of the court to an amended charge dated November 8, 2023.

In that charge Mr Emefiele was the sole defendant and the charges reduced from 20 to six, to which Mr Emefiele pleaded not guilty.

Justice Hamza Muazu on November 22, 2023, granted him bail in the sum of N300 million.

Muazu in addition, ordered for two sureties in the like sum of the N300 million who must have property in Maitama district of Abuja.

The sureties who must in addition present the title documents and certificates of occupancy to the court for verification.

The judge further added that Mr Emefiele should submit to the registrar of the court his travelling documents and must be within Abuja within the period of his trial.

However, when the case came up Thursday, Mr Oyedepo told the court that they filed another amended charges of 20 counts against Mr Emefiele.

He said they filed the defendant on Wednesday.

Responding, the defendant‘s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, told the court that he needed time to study the new charge sheet.

Subsequently, Justice Muazu adjourned the case until Friday for re-arraignment.