EFCC Detains Former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele 

Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Punch can confirm that Emefiele, who is being questioned at the anti-graft agency’s national headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, is currently being picked up by EFCC agents on Thursday night, less than an hour after he was freed from the Department of State Services’ prison.

Our correspondent was informed of the development on Friday morning by a reliable source, who stated that Emefiele is being investigated by the EFCC for alleged improper behavior while he was the head of the apex bank.

“Yes, Emefiele is currently in our (EFCC) custody; he was arrested last night, less than an hour after the DSS freed him. He’s currently being interrogated at the headquarters, as he’s being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds, among other things, during his term as CBN governor,” the source noted.

Our correspondent also learned that the EFCC might bring new charges against Emefiele.

When our correspondent tried to get in touch with Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, on Friday, he was unable to provide official confirmation.

Emefiele was suspended from his position by President Bola Tinubu in June and was placed under the care of the Department of State Services. He was thereafter asked to hand over his responsibilities to Folashodun Shonubi, the then Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate at the apex bank.

The DSS declared that Emefiele was under its custody for “some investigative reasons” the following day.

He was given N20 million in bail after being charged with two counts of “illegal possession” of firearms in a federal high court in Lagos on July 25.

August 17 saw the dismissal of the two-count charge following the Federal Government’s withdrawal of the same. But a new 20-count indictment was filed against him, alleging, among other things, that he conspired to commit procurement fraud.

Emefiele was rumored to have suggested a plea deal with the federal government, and the arraignment has been postponed twice.

Emefiele was obliged by the proposed agreement to “disgorge” certain assets and step down as governor of the CBN.

However, on September 22, the CBN officially confirmed Emefiele’s resignation after Olayemi Cardoso was appointed as substantive governor of the apex bank.