High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, due to the absence of the first and second defendants, who claim to be indisposed.
Emefiele’s arraignment follows the oral application by the Federal Government to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor to replace with fresh allegations of N6.9 billion procurement fraud against Emefiele and his associates.
In an oral application, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that Emefiele would be charged with 20 counts of procurement fraud, conspiracy, and providing corrupt benefits to his accomplices together with a female CBN employee named Sa’adatu Yaro and her business, April 1616 Investment Limited.
He is accused of giving Yaro, April 1616 Investment Ltd. director, corrupt perks.
Although Emefiele was present, the arraignment could not hold as the second defendant, Saadat Yaro, was absent.
Counsel to the Federal Government and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, told Justice Hamza Muazu that Mrs Saadat Yaro took ill in the morning, hence her absence.
Abubakar apologized to the court and applied for a new date for arraignment.
The request for adjournment was not opposed by Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, who stood for Emefiele.
Justice Muazu subsequently fixed August 23 for the arraignment.
Operatives of the Department of the State Service (DSS) who brought Emefiele to court under heavy security returned him to their custody.
He has been detained since his removal from office on June 9, 2023.
