Barring any last-minute changes, the Department of State Security Services, DSS will release the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to sources in the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Justice, Emefiele will be officially handed over to the EFCC soon for further prosecution.
The development is coming a day after the release of the former EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
This newspaper recalls that Emefiele has been in the custody of the DSS since June 10th over his alleged involvement in fraud and several other offenses.
On July 25, Emefiele was arraigned on a two-count charge over “illegal possession” of firearms at a federal high court in Ikoyi and was granted N20 million bail.
Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge, had ordered that Emefiele should be kept in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
But the DSS insisted that Emefiele must return to its custody, a development that led to the face-off between the secret police and prison officials.
After the face-off, DSS rearrested Emefiele at the court premises.
The secret police later withdrew the fire arm charges against Emefiele and slammed him with a 20 count charge of procurement fraud, conspiracy, and providing corrupt benefits to his accomplices together with a female CBN employee – Sa’adatu Yaro and her business, April1616 Investment Limited amounting to N6. 9 billion.
The offence in question contravenes the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000’s Section 19.
