The Federal Government has amended the charges against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The new indictment, filed with the Federal Capital Territory High Court, goes beyond the initial procurement fraud allegations and now includes accusations of forgery, conferring of corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust.
The initial charges, filed in August 2023, numbered 19 and focused on alleged procurement fraud during his tenure at the helm of the CBN. However, the government later narrowed down the charges to six.
The latest amendment has led to an increase of the charges to 20.
Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said he had served the defence team with the amended charge. Responding, Mathew Burkaa, Emefiele’s counsel, said he would need some time to study the new charge before his client could enter a plea.
Thereafter, Hamza Mu’azu, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to Friday, January 19.
