The former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who has been in detention under the Department of State Services (DSS), is now on the verge of being released. This development comes following a plea bargain between Emefiele and the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Igbere TV has learnt.
Notably, Emefiele’s plea bargain hinges on his commitment to return a substantial sum of N50 billion, which he had amassed through corrupt means. Our sources indicate that the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has already signed off on the non-prosecution plea bargain, pending approval from President Tinubu.
In August, Emefiele had found himself facing a daunting 20 counts of conspiracy and procurement fraud, charges brought against him by the Nigerian government. This led to his appearance in court on August 17, 2023, with stringent security measures in place.
“The exclusive deal has been finalised awaiting Tinubu’s order. Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria this weekend after a medical visit to France. The DSS traced N72billion to a series of accounts which Emefiele had planned to use for his Presidential run. Also, $70million he hid with a couple who specialised in helping him to do round tripping was discovered,” a top source revealed to SaharaReporters on Friday.
“The federal investigators have traced ownership of Polaris bank to Emefiele. As well as several other banks he used people to set up,” the source revealed further.
SaharaReporters had reported that the couple, Aminu Yaro, and his wife, Saadatu Yaro, were arrested by the DSS since July 12, in connection with investigations into Emefiele’s infractions.
Alongside his wife, Yaro, described as the Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos and Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, was arrested at their home in Abuja in the early hours of 12 July.
The arrest of the couple had concerned investigations into a case involving Emefiele — which bothered on forex differential fraud.
In August, reports revealed how the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the DSS and the AGF at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by two brothers of Emefiele was withdrawn.
The court’s vacation judge, Justice Emmanuel Okpe, had struck out the suit after the applicants through their lawyer informed the court of their decision to discontinue the case.
It was reported that the suspended CBN governor’s siblings – George Emefiele and Okanta Emefiele, had filed separate ex-parte motions at the court seeking order of the court to enforce their fundamental rights.
It had also been reported that the trial of Emefiele was stalled at the High Court of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following his plan to enter into plea bargaining to get soft-landing.
It was learnt from lawyers involved in the case that Emefiele opted to enter into plea bargaining with the prosecution team.
“The matter is not coming up; they are finding another way to resolve the matter and give him soft-landing,” one of the lawyers had said.
“They are moving to negotiate plea bargaining.”
