Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is facing new charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges allege that he authorized the printing of naira notes totaling N124.86 billion without the necessary approval from the National Assembly. Emefiele is set to appear before Judge Maryann Anenih at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court on Wednesday, adding to the legal challenges he has been confronting since his time at the CBN.
The EFCC contends that Emefiele approved the printing of naira notes without obtaining the required approvals from former President Muhammadu Buhari and the CBN board, and that this action caused public harm.
One of the charge sheet reads, “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 of 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 (Five Hundred Naira) 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 (Two Hundred Naira) Note, at the total cost of N3, 441, 005, 280 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.”
