The embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, has pleaded not guilty to the allegation that he unlawfully printed N684million notes with N18.96billion while he was the governor of the apex bank.
Emefiele who is currently standing trial on two different criminal charges, was arraigned for the 3rd criminal charge on Wednesday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had said that Emefiele had without authorisation from former President Muhammadu Buhari, printed the N684million naira notes.
The anti-graft agency accused the former CBN boss of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of about N124.8bn from the consolidated revenue fund.
According to the EFCC, the defendant, acting in violation of law and “with intent to cause injury to the public,” okayed the printing of naira notes without the approval of both former President Buhari and the board of the CBN.
However, when the four-count charge was read to the defendant before trial Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, he pleaded not guilty to the allegation.
While the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, requested for a date for the commencement of full hearing in the matter, the defendant, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Mahmud Magaji, prayed the court to allow him to go home on bail, pending the determination of the case against him.
Magaji, SAN, urged the court to either grant his client bail on self recognition, or to adopt previous conditions that were handed to him by Justice Hamza Muazu, who is presiding over another charge that is pending against him before the same high court.
He assured that his client would always be available to attend his trial, noting that the charge contained bailable offences.
In her ruling, Justice Anenih said she was minded to accede to the defendant’s request for bail.
Consequently, she granted him bail to the tune of N300million with two sureties in the like sum.
The court maintained that the sureties must not only be resident in Nigeria, but owners of landed properties within the Maitama district of Abuja.
More so, the court stressed that the sureties must deposit an affidavit of means, even as it ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport.
The court warned that the former CBN Governor must not travel out of the country without permission.
It held that he should be remanded at Kuje prison, pending the perfection of all the bail conditions.
The case was subsequently adjourned to May 28 and 29 for the commencement of trial.
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