A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele until August 23.

The Federal Government (FG) initially scheduled today (Thursday) to arraign Emefiele and his allies for their alleged involvement in a N6.9 billion procurement fraud.

He was supposed to be arraigned alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April1616 Investment Limited at the FCT High Court in Abuja.

The arraignment has, however, been adjourned until August 23 due to the absence of some of the defendants joined in the charge, especially the second defendant, Yaro.

Counsel to the FG and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, told Justice Hamza Muazu that Yaro took ill in the morning, hence her absence.

Abubakar thereafter tendered an apology to the court and applied for a new date for arraignment.

The request for adjournment was not opposed by Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who stood for Emefiele.

Justice Muazu subsequently fixed August 23 for the arraignment of the three accused.

The suspended apex bank chief who was present in court on Thursday, Yaro and her company were charged on 20 charges of procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates.

Emefiele was accused of conferring corrupt advantages on Yaro who is a director in April 1616 Investment Ltd with the offence said to be contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

On July 25, Emefiele was admitted to a N20million bail on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

He was also ordered to be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The Department of the State Service (DSS), however, rearrested Emefiele after fighting off prison officials on the court’s premises.
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