The arraignment of former Central Bank CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele was stalled at the FCT High Court in Abuja due to the absence of his co-defendant.
Mr Emefiele, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Service DSS since 10 June, was personally present in court to answer to the fresh 20-count charge of conspiracy and procurement fraud.
He was charged alongside a CBN staff Mrs. Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment Limited.
The Counsel to the Nigerian Government and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar informed Justice Hamza Muazu that, Mrs Saadat Yaro took ill in the morning, hence, was unable to make it to the Court.
He apologized to the Court and applied for a new date for the arraignment.
The request for adjournment was not opposed by the counsel to Emefiele, Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
Lawal Lebi, Counsel to the second defendant, Mrs Saadat Yaro, also did not oppose the request by counsel to the Nigerian Government for adjournment.
Justice Muazu subsequently fixed August 23, 2023 for the arraignment of Emefiele and the co-defendant Mrs. Yaro.
Operatives of the Department of the State Service (DSS) who brought Emefiele to Court amid heavy security returned him to their custody.
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