The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele for allegedly approving the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion.
Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge when he was arraigned before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court, Abuja.
The EFCC alleged that Emefiele disobeyed the direction of the law with the intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Furthermore, the anti-graft agency accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
This is the third set of charges pending against the former CBN governor. On November 17, 2023, Emefiele was arraigned 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 also arraigned Emefiele, alongside one Henry Omoile, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud. Emefiele again pleaded not guilty to the charge.
