From Victor Osula, Abuja
Former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has again maintained his innocence before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, over allegations of unlawful printing of the redesigned Naira banknotes without authorisation and approval.
The Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had in a fresh four-count charge filed before Justice Maryann Anenih, alleged that Emefiele, acting in violation of law and “with intent to cause injury to the public”, printed the new naira notes without the approval of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the board of the CBN.
It also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of about N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
The charges filed by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alongside eight other lawyers acting on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation on April 2, 2024, read: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour swapped N1,000, at the total cost of N11,052,068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th of March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 (Five Hundred Naira) Notes, at the total cost of N4,471,066,040 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of colour-swapped N200 (Two Hundred Naira) Note at the total cost of N3,441,005,280 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, on or about the 7th day of October 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), by approving the withdrawal of the total sum of N124,860,227,865.16 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”
However, taking his plea before Justice Maryann Anenih on Wednesday, Emefiele maintained his innocence while pleading not guilty to all the allegations.
Moving his application for bail, his counsel, Mahmud Magaji, asked the court to grant the former apex bank chief bail on self-recognition and the same grounds and conditions of bail already granted him by a sister court led by Justice Hamza Muazu. He added that Emefiele would always be present in court to face trial.
Wednesday’s arraignment brought to three the number of charges filed against Emefiele by the President Tinubu-led administration.
The EFCC had on November 17, 2023, arraigned Emefiele before Justice Hamza Muazu on a six-count charge of procurement fraud to which he pleaded not guilty. He was also accused of abusing his office by approving a contract for the acquisition of 43 vehicles totalling N1.2 billion from 2018 to 2020.
On April 8, 2024, the EFCC arraigned the former apex bank chief alongside one Henry Omoile before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos over alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud. He had also pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The new charge, dated April 2, 2024, was filed by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alongside eight other lawyers acting on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation.
