Emefiele’s arraignment stalls again as suspended CBN gov allegedly opts for plea bargain

Strong indications emerged that the planned arraignment of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele has been put off indefinitely.

The arraignment of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, over alleged procurement fraud was stalled for the second time in one week.

Emefiele and one Mrs Sa’adatu Yaro were to be arraigned last week Thursday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, for allegedly breaching the procurement Act in respect of the purchase of some vehicles but the arraignment could not go on because of the reported ill health of Mrs Yaro.

Trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, subsequently adjourned to Wednesday August 23 for arraignment.

However, on the said adjourned date, Emefiele, his co-defendant, his lawyers and that of the prosecution were not present in court.

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Similarly, a check on the case list for the day showed that Emefiele’s case was not among the cases the court would handle for the day.

Meanwhile, one of the senior lawyers defending Emefiele, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, told THISDAY that the matter would not come up, adding, “they will communicate the new date” for arraignment.

Sources said that Emefiele and his-co accused, Saadat Yaro, have opted for a plea bargain policy to settle with the Federal Government.