The embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele broke down in tears today after he was slammed with a fresh 20-count charge.
The formal arraignment of the former CBN boss could not proceed as the second defendant, Saadat Yaro, was absent.
Counsel to the Federal Government and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, told Justice Hamza Muazu that Mrs Saadat Yaro took ill in the morning and could therefore not be brought to court.
Abubakar apologized to the court and applied for a new date for the 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.
However, as Emefiele stood in the dock pretending to make a phone call, he could be seen heaving as someone sobbing.
His lawyers massed around him and tried to prevent the journalists from moving closer. An attempt by a security official to take the phone away from him was also resisted by his lawyers who pointed out that he was doing nothing wrong.
The former CBN boss was soon shepherded out of the courtroom as journalists struggled to get a good view of him.
Emefiele was supposed to be arraigned alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro and her company, April 1616 Investment Limited on 20 charges of procurement fraud, conspiracy and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates.
Operatives of the Department of the State Service (DSS) who brought Emefiele to court under heavy security returned him to their custody.
