Godwin Emefiele arrives in court on July 25, 2023.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor Godwin Emefiele approved the printing ofN684.5 million naira with N18.9 billion, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has said.

EFCC made the claim in a new four-count charge filed against Emefiele at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

The anti-graft agency’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) filed the suit before Justice Hamza Muzak.

The agency said Emefiele disobeyed “direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public.”

It argued that the offence is punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990.

The agency also accused Emefiele of illegal approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

Parts of the charge reads: PARTICULARS OF THE OFFENCE: That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour swapped N1, 000, at the total cost of N11,052, 068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

COUNT 2: That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 (Five Hundred Naira) Notes, at the total cost of N4, 471,066,040 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

COUNT 3: That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of colour swapped N200 (Two Hundred Naira) Note, at the total cost of N3, 441, 005, 280 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

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