Alleged ₦9.6 Billion Fraud: Drama As Emefiele Hides From Camera In Court

As Court Sitting Was stalled, adjourned to Aug 23

Godwin Emefiele, suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), avoided the camera when he arrived at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Thursday.

Emefiele, who has been in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest after President Bola Tinubu suspended him on June 9, exchanged pleasantries with his team of lawyers in court.

When operatives of the secret police brought him to the court, journalists were not allowed to freely take pictures and capture him on camera as the defendant’s lawyers also shielded him.

Emefiele’s arraignment was stalled due to ill-health of one of the staff of the apex bank.

At the hearing on Thursday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Abubakar Mohammed, informed the court that Yaro took ill in the morning and would be unavailable for the arraignment.

Counsel to Emefiele, Alabi Ajayi Esq, did not object to the application.

Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case to August 23 to enable the prosecution produce the second defendant.

Emefiele was charged on a 20-count of alleged procurement fraud and conferring of corrupt advantages on himself before an FCT High Court alongside Sa’adatu Yaro, a staff member of the CBN and her company, April 16 Investment Ltd.

The Federal Government had recently withdrawn the illegal possession of firearms charge it filed against suspended CBN governor and filed fresh charges.

One of the counts against Emefiele is “conferring unlawful advantages”. He was also accused of engaging in conspiracy and procurement fraud, among others. (Pieced together from reports by Daily Trust)