Emefiele who was arrested by Nigeria's secret Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) in June and had been in detention since June 10, has been accused of procurement fraud to the tune of N6.9 billion.
The arraignment of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, was on Wednesday stalled for the second time at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
Emefiele who was arrested by Nigeria's secret Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) in June and had been in detention since June 10, has been accused of procurement fraud to the tune of N6.9 billion.
He was initially arraigned on offences bordering on illegal possession of firearm and ammunition but the charge was later withdrawn by the government after he was granted bail.
SaharaReporters reported on Thursday, August 17, that the planned arraignment of Emefiele, and two others on 20 counts stalled at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
Although Emefiele was present in court, the arraignment could not hold as the second defendant, Sa’adatu Yaro, was absent.
The duo, alongside a company, April 1616 Investment Limited, which is said to belong to Yaro, were to be arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu on fresh charges bordering on alleged breach of procurement laws.
The counsel for the Federal Government and Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, told Muazu that Mrs Saadat Yaro took ill in the morning, hence her absence.
Abubakar apologised to the court and applied for a new date for arraignment.
Following an application for adjournment, the Presiding Judge, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the matter to August 23, 2023.
However, on Wednesday (today), the matter could not go on because it was not listed on the list of court cases.
The lawyers representing both parties were absent in court.