By Jerry Daks
Again, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele’s arraignment on alleged breach of procurement laws and contract inflation failed to hold.
Strong indications have emerged that the detained former CBN Boss, have opted for a plea bargain policy to settle with the Federal Government, hence, the indefinite hold on the arraignment.
It was discovered that the arraignment on a 20-count charges slated for Wednesday August 23, was not listed in the cause list before Justice Hamza Muazu of the federal capital territory high court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja
It was also gathered at the court room that the arraignment was shifted at the instance of the detained CBN Chief.
Authoritative sources confided in our correspondent that Emefiele and his-co accused, Saadat Yaro have opted for a plea bargain policy to settle with the Federal Government.
Speaking on the development and the defendant’s absence in court, counsel to the defendant, Kehinde Akinlolu, confirmed the shift in the arraignment.
Emefiele’s lawyer , Kehinde Akinlolu SAN confirmed the shift in the arraignment when contacted on phone, adding that a new date may likely be issued by the court by the Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf.
At the time of this report, operatives of the Department of State Service DSS who used to escort him to court are not in court as well as his legal team.
Meanwhile, the court has commenced proceedings on matters on the cause list.
The suspended CBN governor, who appeared before the court last Thursday, was supposed to be arraigned but the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the second defendant who was said to have been indisposed.
Although Emefiele (the first defendant) was present in court, the second defendant, a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, was not in court.
Following an application for adjournment, the Presiding Judge, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the matter to August 23, 2023.