The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday took former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, into custody just as soon as he was granted freedom by the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).
Emefiele, who is currently being interrogated at the National Headquarters of the anti-graft agency, Jabi, Abuja, was picked up by EFCC operatives Thursday night, less than an hour after he regained his freedom from detention by DSS, Truth Live News gathered.
According to a reliable source who spoke to Punch on Friday morning, the EFCC is probing Emefiele over alleged impropriety during his term as the head of the apex bank.
“Yes, Emefiele is currently in our (EFCC) custody; he was arrested last night less than an hour after the DSS freed him. He’s currently being interrogated at the headquarters, as he’s being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds amongst other things during his term as CBN governor,” the source noted.
It was also gathered that fresh charges may be filed against Emefiele by the EFCC.
Recall that Emefiele had been in the custody of the Department of State Services since June after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office.
He was thereafter asked to hand over his responsibilities to Folashodun Shonubi, the then Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate at the apex bank.
A day after, the DSS announced that Emefiele was in its custody for ‘some investigative reasons’.
On July 25, he was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on “illegal possession” of firearms at a federal high court in Lagos and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million.
The two-count charge was later struck out on August 17 after the Federal Government withdrew the same.
However, a fresh 20-count charge was instituted against him over an alleged conspiracy to carry out procurement fraud, among others.
The arraignment has been stalled twice, and Emefiele was reported to have proposed a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Government.
The proposed agreement required Emefiele to resign as CBN governor and ‘disgorge’ some assets.
However, on September 22, the CBN officially confirmed Emefiele’s resignation after Olayemi Cardoso was appointed as substantive governor of the apex bank.