Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, regained his freedom Thursday night and was immediately picked up by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), according to multiple sources.
Emefiele is being interrogated and there are indications that fresh charges will be filed against him.
Emefiele had been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June after President Bola Tinubu handed him a suspension.
He was thereafter asked to transfer his responsibilities to Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, then deputy governor, operations directorate at the apex bank.
The day after, the DSS announced that Emefiele was in its custody for “some investigative reasons”.
On July 25, he was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on “illegal possession” of firearms at a federal high court in Lagos, and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million.
The two-count charge was later struck out on August 17 after the federal government withdrew same.
However, a fresh 20-count charge was instituted against him over an alleged conspiracy to carry out procurement fraud, among others.
The arraignment has been stalled twice while the embattled former CBN boss made a plea bargain agreement.
Subsequently, the CBN officially confirmed Emefiele’s resignation on September 22, after Olayemi Cardoso was appointed as substantive governor of the apex bank.
Both EFCC and DSS are yet to comment on the latest development.
