Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has pleaded not guilty to the allegation of approving the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion levied against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The embattled former CBN governor made the plea during his arraignment by the EFCC on a four-count charge before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court, Abuja on Wednesday.
News About Nigeria reported that in the four-count charge filed against Emefiele, the anti-graft agency accused him of printing naira notes without the approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the apex bank board.
The commission also accused the former CBN boss of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Federation’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Part of the four court charge against Emefiele read, “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.
“That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, on or about the 7th day of October 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable 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.”
