A Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on Tuesday has adjourned the fresh arraignment of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over alleged unlawful printing of naira notes, to May 15, 2024.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was scheduled to arraign Emefiele before Justice Maryanne Anenih in the suit marked CR/264/2024.
In the charge sheet filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Anenih, Emefiele was accused of knowingly disobeying 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 notes, 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, among other things.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, the EFCC case was listed on the court’s cause list as seen by Naijaonpoint but none of the legal team of the parties showed up including Emefiele, till the end of proceedings.
Naijaonpoint gathered that the EFCC had applied to the court, to have the planned arraignment scheduled for today, April 30, shifted to another date.
The court subsequently adjourned Emefiele’s arraignment to May 15, 2024, at the instance of the EFCC’s request for an adjournment.
Naijaonpoint also gathered from a lawyer in Emefiele’s team, Maxwell Opara, that the suspended governor was still in Lagos.
Emefiele pleaded “not guilty.” to the charge. EFCC later amended the charges before Justice Muazu and re-arraigned Emefiele.
The suspended CBN governor pleaded not guilty, and the case is yet to be concluded.