The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has debunked rumours in a said report alleging that it entered a non-prosecution plea bargain arrangement with the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Director Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Justice, Modupe Ogundoro, urging the general public to disregard the report which also states that the plea bargain agreement is awaiting the signature of President Bola Tinubu.
The Attorney general further stated that the legal team representing Emefiele had expressed their intention in court at the last hearing to initiate a plea bargain arrangement; however no such arrangement has been reached with the suspended CBN governor or his representatives.
The Chief Law Officer reiterated that his office will continue to take all actions in the interest of the Nigerian public.
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According to the charge pending against Emefiele before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the defendant was said to have engaged in a 6.9 billion naira procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on himself and associates.
Other defendants are one Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited.
The charge alleges that the defendants bought a fleet of over 98 exotic vehicles and armoured buses valued at about N6.9 billion.
Although the arraignment has been adjourned twice, the second defendant has never been in court to take her plea.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
