No N50bn Plea Bargain With Detained Emefiele

The immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, may remain a little longer in detention as the federal government over the weekend distanced itself from a N50 billion planned non-prosecution plea bargain with the embattled former governor of the apex bank.

Emefiele was reported to have entered into a plea bargain with the government on condition of surrendering N50 billion to facilitate his early release from the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS).

The plea bargain was also said to be aimed at cancelling the trial of the former CBN chief on a series of charges including money laundering, breach of Public Procurement Act and abuse of office.

The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said there was no iota of truth in the plea bargain deal.

Fagbemi said neither his office nor the presidency has had anything of such nature with Emefiele.

The position of the minister was contained in a statement by the director of information in the ministry of justice, Mrs Modupe Ogundoro.

The statement reads in part “The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a report alleging that the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, have agreed to a non prosecution plea bargain arrangement.

“The report further alleges that Mr. Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the attorney general, have signed a non-prosecution plea bargain agreement and that the agreement is awaiting the signature of President Bola Tinubu.

“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice hereby states clearly that these reports are completely false.

“It would be noted that the legal team representing Mr. Godwin Emefiele had expressed their intention in court at the last hearing to initiate a plea bargain arrangement.

“However, no such arrangement has been reached with Mr. Emefiele or his representatives. We wish to advise the media and members of the public to kindly disregard the said false report.

“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will continue to take all actions in the interest of the Nigerian public.”