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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh four-count charge against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for illegally printing naira notes while in office.
In the fresh charge now before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the anti-graft commission equally accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of about N124.8 billion from the consolidated revenue fund.
The prosecution agency said the former CBN boss, acting in violation of law and “with intent to cause injury to the public,” approved the printing of naira notes without the approval of both the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the board of the CBN. Already, Emefiele is facing multiple charges both in Abuja and Lagos and is expected to take his plea before Justice Maryann Anenih.
The new charge against him 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, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th March 2023, in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 notes, at the total cost of N4, 471,066,040 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, 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 137,070,000 pieces of colour swapped N200 note, at the total cost of N3,441,005, 280 without the recommendation of the board of the 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 honourable 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.”
