The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has levied new charges against Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (EFCC).
A new charge against Emefiele has been presented by the EFCC due to an accusation that during his tenure at the top bank, he illegally printed Naira notes.
In the four-count indictment the anti-graft agency filed with the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court, Abuja, it also charged the former head of the CBN with illegally authorizing the removal of approximately N124.8 billion from the consolidated revenue fund.
The EFCC claims that the defendant authorized the printing of naira notes without the consent of the CBN board of directors and former President Muhammadu Buhari, acting illegally and “with intent to cause injury to the public.”
Emefiele, who is currently being prosecuted on numerous counts in both Lagos and Abuja, is anticipated to enter a plea before trial judge Maryann Anenih.
The charge against him stated specifically as follows: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, between the 19th day of October 2022 and the 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 color swapped N1,000, 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. Your actions caused harm to the public and you thereby committed an offense.”
