The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh set of 26 charges against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
These charges encompass allegations of abuse of office and corruption, leading to Emefiele’s scheduled arraignment before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday, April 8.
The counts include accusations of accepting gratification, receiving gifts through agents, engaging in corrupt practices, accepting property obtained fraudulently, and bestowing corrupt advantages upon associates, all in contravention of the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000.
According to reports from Channels Television, the charges were filed on April 3 by the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Among the charges, count one alleges Emefiele’s involvement in directing arbitrary actions between 2022 and 2023 in Lagos, abusing the authority of his office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Specifically, it accuses him of allocating foreign exchange totaling $2,136,391,737.33 without following due process, thereby prejudicing the rights of Nigerians.
The initiation of these charges marks another significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against Emefiele, signaling the EFCC’s continued efforts to address alleged instances of corruption and abuse of power within the nation’s financial institutions.
Emefiele’s scheduled appearance before the court on April 8 underscores the gravity of the accusations and the importance of accountability in upholding the rule of law.