Emefiele has returned to EFCC custody and is set to face his fourth arraignment on April 25

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja ordered the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, back to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday.

Justice Rahman Oshodi issued the remand order shortly after the EFCC arraigned Emefiele on 23 counts related to “abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage.”

According to the charges, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele abused his office during his tenure as CBN Governor through the allocation of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. Emefiele, along with Henry Isioma-Omoile, who was accused of accepting gifts from agents, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

While Emefiele was ordered to be remanded in EFCC custody, Isioma-Omoile was remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, where he was already being held. The judge adjourned the case till Thursday, April 11, 2024, to hear their bail applications.

This return to EFCC custody marks Emefiele’s fourth encounter with the law since his removal from office by President Bola Tinubu last June.

The EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alleged that Emefiele abused his authority by allocating foreign exchange without bids, corruptly accepted monetary sums, and approved payments to various companies during his tenure as CBN governor.