Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi has debunked an online media report that the federal government has agreed to a N50billion plea bargain with the immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele.
Director of information in the Federal Ministry of Justice Modupe Ogundoro made the rebuttal in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday.
Mr Emefiele has been in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) after his suspension as CBN governor in June.
He is standing trial on a series of charges including money laundering, breach of the Public Procurement Act and abuse of office at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
Debunking the report of a N50billion plea bargain, Mr Fagbemi, through the statement signed by Mrs Ogundoro, said that neither his office nor the Presidency has any deal of such nature with Emefiele.
“The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, have agreed to a non-prosecution plea bargain arrangement.
“The report further alleges that Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, have signed a non-prosecution plea bargain agreement and that the agreement is awaiting the signature of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice hereby states clearly that these reports are completely false.
“It would be noted that the legal team representing Mr. Godwin Emefiele had expressed their intention in court at the last hearing to initiate a plea bargain arrangement.
“However, no such arrangement has been reached with Emefiele or his representatives.
“We wish to advise the media and members of the public to kindly disregard the said false report.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will continue to take all actions in the interest of the Nigerian public,” the statement said.
