Following a media report claiming that a non-prosecution plea-bargain agreement has been reached between the federal government and the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), has described it as unfounded.
Recall that following his suspension, the former CBN governor was arrested on July 9 at his home in Lagos by the DSS and charged on two counts of offences bordering on illegal possession of firearms.
The AGF’s reaction is contained in a statement on Sunday, October 1, issued by the Director (Press and Public Relations) Federal Ministry of Justice, Modupe Ogundoro.
Although Emefiele’s legal team had spoken about it during a court hearing, the statement noted that no such deal currently exists.
The statement 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, GCFR.
“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.”
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then