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Alleged N6.69b fraud case: Emefiele opts for plea bargain

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Godwin Emefiele
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Weighed down by the rigours of investigation and the pangs of trial, the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has opted for plea bargain.

It was learnt that as part of the out-of-court settlement terms, Emefiele will forfeit any illicit funds and questionable assets traced to him. But, it could not be confirmed if any illicit fund has been linked to him.

He will also step aside as the CBN governor to enable the government to appoint a substantive holder.

It was also gathered that Emefiele and his relations will withdraw all matters in court.

Yesterday, an Abuja Court struck out a suit filed by the embattled CBN governor challenging his detention.

His siblings – George and Okanta – withdrew the two suits they filed against the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

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Some highly-placed Nigerians were said to have interceded for Emefiele to make government accept the plea bargain offer.

The turn of event on his trial was said to have both “legal and political tones to avoid anything which may have negative impacts on the economic agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Emefiele is standing trial for alleged violation of the procurement law to the tune of N6.9 billion.

According to a top source, who spoke in confidence, Emefiele was worried about the likely dragging of his trial for years.

The source said the suspended CBN boss and members of his family weighed all options and settled for plea bargain.

The source said the Federal Government legal team and Emefiele’s lawyers were perfecting the terms of settlement.

The source said: “Emefiele has considered all options and chose out- of-court settlement which may lead to his freedom if the terms are agreeable to both parties.

“He felt he may face multiple trials and he doesn’t want to go the whole hog of being in and out of court. For instance, since the time he was arrested, it has been difficult to verify his assets. So, he has a Code of Conduct case pending.

“But the plea bargain appeared the smartest option for him, according to our source.

“He is expected to forfeit any suspicious cash and assets traced to him by law enforcement and anti-graft agencies.”

The source added: “Emefiele will step aside as the CBN governor. He may either resign or be sent on compulsory retirement.

“This will enable the government to appoint a substantive CBN governor.

“The settlement will allow the government to avoid a repeat of the legal challenges associated with the removal of a former CBN governor, Mal. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.”

 Emefiele’s arraignment fails to hold

Emefiele’s scheduled arraignment by the Federal Government on a 20-count corruption charge failed to hold on Wednesday.

It was the second consecutive time that Emifiele’s arraignment would not hold.

The one planned for last Thursday before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, suffered a similar fate.

It was shifted to Wednesday as a result of the non-appearance in court of his co-defendant, Ms. Sa’adatu Rammalan Yaro, who the prosecution claimed took ill in the wee hours of August 17.

A source at the FHC in Abuja told The Nation yesterday that Emefiele’s arraignment was shifted at the instance of the embattled suspended CBN governor.

His lawyer, Kehinde Akinlolu (SAN), confirmed the shift in the arraignment.

According to him, a new date may likely be issued by the Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf.

Also yesterday, two siblings of the suspended CBN boss, –  George and Okanta – withdrew the two suits they filed against the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

They filed the two fundamental rights enforcement suits to restrain the DSS from arresting them.

When both cases were called yesterday, their lawyer, Grace Ehusani, informed the court about her clients’ applications to withdraw the suits.

Ehusani gave no reasons for the withdrawal.

Counsel to the DSS, Ibrahim Awo, and Maimuna Lami-Shiru, who represented the AGF, did not object to the withdrawal.

But they requested the court to dismiss the cases.

While Awo requested a substantial cost, Lami-Shiru, demanded N2 million.

Awo said he made it clear to the applicants at the commencement of the case that it would waste the court’s time but that they ignored him.

In his ruling, Justice Edward Okpe struck out the cases at no cost to the applicants.

Okpe noted that both respondents were government agencies who did not pay for what they filed in court and were not entitled to any cost.(Nation)

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DSS releases Nnamdi Kanu’s doctor, Aghaji

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Martin Aghaji, retired professor
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…insider sheds light on reason for his arrest

Professor Martin Aghaji, personal doctor to Nnamdi Kanu, has been arrested by Nigeria’s security operatives, Aloy Ejimakor, Mr Kanu’s lawyer said in an X post on Saturday.

Mr Kanu is the convicted leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He is serving life imprisonment in Sokoto State after a federal high court in Abuja convicted him in November for terrorism.

Mr Ejimakor said in the X post that Mr Aghaji, a retired professor, was arrested at his residence in Enugu State on Friday.

The lawyer did not specifically say which operatives arrested the medical doctor, although he suggested that the arrest was connected to a medical report issued by the doctor on Mr Kanu which contradicted a similar report by the Department of  State Security (DSS).

“This is the height of the official harassment he has been facing since he issued the medical report that did not comport with the SSS’s medical report on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Mr Ejimakor said.

How they arrested the medical doctor

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In another post on Sunday evening, the lawyer claimed “the security operatives” stormed Mr Aghaji’s residence at about 3:00 a.m., violently pulled down his gate and forcibly gained entry” into the apartment.

“During the commotion, shots were fired. They’ve now taken him to Lagos,” he stated.

Release of the doctor

Mr Ejimakor, in a fresh post on Sunday night, announced that Mr Aghaji has been released from detention following the intervention of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and other bodies.

“While welcoming this development, the DSS is hereby admonished to do better than this,” he said, suggesting that the secret police earlier carried out the arrest.

DSS speaks

When contacted on Monday, the spokesperson of the DSS, Favour Dozie, confirmed the secret police indeed arrested Mr Aghaji from his residence in Enugu.

Ms Dozie, however, said the arrest was never linked to Mr Kanu or IPOB.

“He was arrested, but not in connection with Nnamdi Kanu,” she said, refusing to give details because the matter was under investigation.

The DSS spokesperson stressed that the retired professor’s arrest could not have been linked to Mr Kanu because the IPOB leader had already been convicted by a court and currently serving jail term.

She confirmed that Mr Aghaji was granted administrative bail and subsequently released to the NMA leadership in Lagos State on Sunday after providing a credible individual as his surety.

An official of the DSS later informed PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Aghaji’s arrest followed his alleged financial transactions to high-profile criminals under investigation.

“He was even sorry about it when he was informed of the transactions he made. The man himself felt very bad,” said the official who asked not to be named because he did not have permission to speak on the matter.

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PFIPC: Adeyemi’s father arrested as police intensify forgery probe

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The father of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, who is facing criminal charges over alleged forgery and impersonation, was reportedly arrested by police operatives on Monday in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Residents told journalists that the arrest took place at the family’s residence, where officers reportedly arrived in several vehicles before taking Adeniyi’s father and another man said to have been visiting the home into custody.

Witnesses said the operation drew the attention of residents and caused anxiety within the household, particularly for the suspect’s elderly mother.

A resident, who requested anonymity, alleged that the officers quickly secured the premises and left with the two men, while a security presence remained in the area for some time after the operation.

Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi is currently standing trial over allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences arising from claims linked to the purported Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council.

The case is pending before the court.

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As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Police Command had not issued an official statement confirming or explaining the reported arrests.

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Tiktoker, Peller, arraigned in court for threatening and videoing police officers on duty; granted 500k bail

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Peller
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The Lagos state police command today July 6 arraigned popular TikToker, Habeeb Hamzat aka Peller, and one other, Bello Oladipo, before a magistrate court on a three-count charge bordering on resisting police officers, obstructing them from carrying out their duties, and threatening and videoing police officers while performing their lawful duties.

Recall that on July 2, Peller clashed with some officers along the Coastal road in Lagos after he was intercepted for allegedly driving a car without a plate number.

Peller had claimed he had just purchased the vehicle.

The officers, however, dismissed his claim and insisted he must be taken to the station. Things, however, took a different turn after Peller began recording his interaction with the police officers.

He claimed the officers became hostile to him. He alleged that one of the officers dragged his shirt and even pointed a gun at him.

Monday morning, both Peller and his friend, who was in the vehicle with him, were arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate court.

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Count one of the charges reads:

‘’That you Bello Oladipo “m” and Habeeb Hamzat “m” of No. 16,Platinum Road Lekki phase 2 , on the 2” day of July 2026 at about 2000hrs at Coastal Road Lekki, Lagos within the Magisterial district of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Resisting public officers and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state 2015.

COUNT 2

‘’That you Bello Oladipo “m” and Habeeb Hamzat “m “ of Number 16, Platinum Road, Lekki Phase 2, on the 2’” day of July 2026 at about 2000hrs at Coastal Road Lekki, Lagos within the Magisterial district of this Honourable court did obstruct one ASP Agbede Victor and three other police officers while engaged in the discharge of their constituted duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable by Section 117 (1)(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.”

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

The court subsequently granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties, one of whom must be a bl++d relative. The court also directed them to present two years’ tax clearance certificates as part of their bail conditions.

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