The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele briefly after he regained freedom on Thursday night from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.
According to Sahara Reporters, a source said the anti-graft agency picked up the former CBN governor as directed by the presidency.
“Emefiele regained his freedom last night but he was immediately picked up by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” a top security source said.
The DSS arrested Emefiele in June 2023, on the same day President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, suspended him from office with immediate effect.
Emefiele was suspended “sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.”
A release by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information, for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has also said, “Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms.”
The former CBN governor was set to be released from detention by the DSS after entering into a plea bargain with the federal government.
The non-prosecution plea bargain for Emefiele was premised upon the former governor’s willingness to return N50 billion, which he allegedly stole. Emefiele’s arraignment was said to have been stalled because the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was awaiting Tinubu’s approval for it after signing the non-prosecution plea bargain, given that the president was out of the country at the time.
“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 N72 billion to a series of accounts which Emefiele had planned to use for his presidential run. Also, $70 million he hid with a couple who specialised in helping him to do round-tripping was discovered,” SaharaReporters quoted a top source.
However, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice denied the existence of any non-prosecution plea bargain involving Emefiele.
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Recall that the DSS released Abdulrasheed Bawa, the former chairman of the EFCC, on Wednesday night. He had been detained by the secret police for 134 days without trial.
Bawa was arrested and detained by the DSS on June 14, 2023, following an invite. The invite followed allegations of abuse of office shortly after he was suspended by President Tinubu.
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