By Ken Afor
The immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has pleaded not guilty of authorizing the printing of N684.5 million at a cost of N18.96 billion.
He said this during his arraignment on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Maryann Anenih at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
It would be recalled that in April, the anti-graft agency filed fresh charges against the former apex bank chief. He was accused of violating legal directives with the intent to harm the public while implementing the naira swap policy during the administration of the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The prosecutor stated that the offense is punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Additionally, according to the anti-graft agency, Emefiele unlawfully approved an alleged withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
Parts of the charge read: “PARTICULARS OF THE OFFENCE: That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between the 19th day of October 2022 and 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 colour swapped N1,000, 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, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”
COUNT 2: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 (Five Hundred Naira) Notes, at the total cost of N4,471,066,040 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.
COUNT 3: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of colour swapped N200 (Two Hundred Naira) Note, at the total cost of N3,441,005,280 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”
COUNT 4: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, on or about the 7th day of October 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), by approving the withdrawal of the total sum of N124,860,227,865.16 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”
