The Federal Government has disassociated itself from a reported N50 billion non-prosecution plea bargain with the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele. It was alleged that Emefiele had entered into a plea bargain with the government, agreeing to surrender N50 billion to secure his early release from the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS). The plea bargain was reportedly aimed at dropping charges against Emefiele, including money laundering, breach of the Public Procurement Act, and abuse of office.
However, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, has stated that there is no truth in the alleged plea bargain deal. Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), emphasized that neither his office nor the Presidency has engaged in such a negotiation with Emefiele.
The position of the Federal Government was conveyed in a statement issued by the Director of Information in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Modupe Ogundoro. The statement clarified that reports of a non-prosecution plea bargain arrangement between Emefiele and the government are entirely false.
It was noted that while Emefiele’s legal team had expressed their intention in court to initiate a plea bargain arrangement, no such agreement has been reached with Emefiele or his representatives. The statement urged the media and the public to disregard the false report and assured that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will act in the best interests of the Nigerian public.