Accusations have been made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, stating that he approved the printing of N684,590,000 at a value of N18.96 billion.
These claims were brought forth in a new charge filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
In the charge presented on Tuesday, EFCC alleged that Emefiele violated the law with the intention to harm the public while executing the naira swap policy of the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The anti-corruption agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully endorsing the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
As per the document dated April 2, 2024, and labeled as Suit No: CR/264/2024, filed by EFCC’s lead prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Emefiele is set to face a new four-count charge before Justice Hamza Muazu. The charges include disobeying the law to penalize Nigerians, illegal money printing, abuse of authority, and more.
Detailing the first to fourth counts of the charge, it states, “STATEMENT OF OFFENCE: Public Servant disobeying direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990.”
“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.”