The Nigerian Government has disassociated itself from a reported N50 billion plea bargain with the former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele. This alleged plea bargain was said to involve Emefiele surrendering the sum of N50 billion in exchange for an early release from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody, as well as the cancellation of his trial on charges including money laundering, breach of the Public Procurement Act, and abuse of office.
In a press statement issued on Sunday by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, through the Director of Information in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Modupe Ogundoro, it was asserted that there is no truth to these claims of a plea bargain agreement.
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stated that neither his office nor the Presidency had engaged in any such agreement with Emefiele.
The statement from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice reads:
“The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and the Federal Government of Nigeria have agreed to a non-prosecution plea bargain arrangement.
“The report further alleges that Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, have signed a non-prosecution plea bargain agreement, and that the agreement is awaiting the signature of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice hereby states clearly that these reports are completely false. It would be noted that the legal team representing Mr. Godwin Emefiele had expressed their intention in court at the last hearing to initiate a plea bargain arrangement. However, no such arrangement has been reached with Mr. Godwin Emefiele or his representatives.
“We wish to advise the media and members of the public to kindly disregard the said false report. The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will continue to take all actions in the interest of the Nigerian public.”
