The arraignment of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on allegation bordering on procurement fraud in the tune of N6.9 billion, has again been stalled at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
At the Wednesday scheduled arraignment, the matter was not listed on the cause list of the Court and lawyers to both parties were absent in court.
There was also no reason from the court on why the mater was not listed for the arraignment.
The suspended CBN governor, who appeared before the court last Thursday, was supposed to be arraigned but the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the second defendant who was said to have been indisposed.
Although Emefiele (the first defendant) was present in court, the second defendant, a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, was not in court.
Emefiele is expected to be arraigned alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited on 20 charges of an alleged procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates.
Emefiele, who had been in detention since he was suspended from office on June 9 by President Bola Tinubu is being accused of conferring corrupt advantages on Yaro, a director in April 1616 Investment Ltd.
The offence is contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
However, unconfirmed report has it that the suspended CBN governor is pushing to enter into a plea bargain with the federal government.
As at the time of filing in this report, there is no information from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, State Security Services SSS or Emefiele’s counsel to authenticate the report.
