August 16, (THEWILL) – A civil society group, African Center for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), has faulted the Federal Government over an allegation of fraud against Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Federal Government has charged Emefiele before a Federal Territory Capital (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
In the charges signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar; Deputy Director, Public Prosecution, Mrs Nkiru Jones-Nebo and eight other ministry officials, Emefiele, along with a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited, would be arraigned on a 20 count charges bothering on alleged procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates.
Reacting to the development, the ACJHR, in a statement by its convener, Barr. Tochukwu Ohazuruike, faulted the charges, insisting that the suspended CBN Governor was innocent of all allegations.
Ohazuruike accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of a “witch-hunt, sponsored by unscrupulous politicians and businessmen,” who are hellbent on destroying Emefiele.
While pointing out that the DSS has, over the months, disrespected the judiciary in regard to Emefiele’s case, the ACJHR urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the secret police to release Emefiele, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
“Emefiele is innocent of the fresh allegations of breach of Procurement Act and unfair advantages in award of contract by the Federal Government. The Department of State Services, DSS, over the months, has tried in vain to pin the suspended CBN Governor with baseless charges.
“First, it was an allegation of terrorism financing, then alleged possession of illegal firearms, now they are withdrawing the charges and claiming Emefiele breached the Procurement Act.
“With the way the secret police is changing their claims against the embattled suspended CBN Governor, it’s clear that they are on a witch-hunt, sponsored by unscrupulous politicians and businessmen, who are hellbent on destroying him.
“However, as a human rights organisation, we believe that everyone charged with an offence is innocent until proven guilty. We won’t allow violations of human rights and hereby urge President Bola Tinubu to direct the secret police to release Emefiele, pending the hearing and determination of the trial,” he said.
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