Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has denied rumours that he and former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele agreed to a non-prosecution plea agreement.
In August, an arraignment for N6.9 billion in procurement fraud against Emefiele and his collaborators was scheduled at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The fact that the case had not moved further to this point had fueled rumours that he had chosen to enter into a plea agreement with the federal government.
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According to a recent source, President Bola Tinubu’s signature was required to finish the process after a plea agreement was signed by Emefiele and the Federal Government, represented by the AGF.
However, in a statement on Sunday by the spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, Modupe Ogundoro, the AGF described the report as false.
The AGF said no such agreement exists between his office and the embattled former CBN governor.
“The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to reports alleging that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and the Federal Government of Nigeria have agreed to a non-prosecution plea bargain arrangement.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice hereby states clearly that these reports are completely false.
“It would be noted that the legal team representing Godwin Emefiele had expressed its intention in court at the last hearing to initiate a plea bargain arrangement. However, no such arrangement has been reached with Mr Godwin Emefiele or his representatives.”
