Statement issued the other day by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice debunking speculation in the public sphere of a possible plea bargain arrangement between government and the former Governor of the Central Bank came at a good time.
To some extent, it may have helped to remove some of the haze surrounding the prosecution of the embattled banker, who has been in security custody for several months now To some extent, it may have helped to remove some of the haze surrounding the prosecution of the embattled banker, who has been in security custody for several months now.
Government should do more to erase negative public suspicion on Emefiele’s impending trial instead of giving an impression that it has developed cold feet in pursuing the same conclusion. Emefiele was initially arrested for alleged terrorism financing, though later arraigned for illegal possession of firearms charge, and is presently facing a fraudulent procurement accusation.
The bargain was further speculated to be aimed at terminating Emefiele’s trial over the fresh charge, on the condition that he would surrender N50 billion to the government and resign from his position as CBN Governor; a narrative debunked by the AGF. All the same, posers have arisen on why the parties were not present in court at the last sitting; and when is the next court date? Notably, the CBN confirmed the resignation of Emefiele while he is still in detention.
As deducible from some decided cases, plea bargain arrangement has been reduced to a safety net for high-profile offenders and politically exposed persons . In 2008, pursuant to a plea bargain, the 191-count charge of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement of 2.9 billion naira originally proffered against a former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, were reduced to one count of failure to declare his interest in a bank account in the declaration of assets form of the EFCC.
The fact that the controversy over Emefiele’s prosecution has lingered for about a year without any precise direction on the part of the government is worrisome. Also, his continuous detention without a proper trial constitutes an infringement to his constitutional right to personal liberty. It is about time the government stops politicising the Emefiele matter and try him openly in court, if he has indeed committed any offence.
Elder statesman and leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum , Edwin Clark, has described the death of Prof. Theophilus Jacob Tom Princewill, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, as a great loss to the Ijaw nation, academic community and Nigeria at large. Clark, who spoke while receiving the deceased son, Tonye, in company of David Briggs, and Sir…
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