The Justice Minister, Lateef Fagbemi, has expressed the Federal Government’s disassociation from the proposed non-prosecution plea bargain of N50 billion involving the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The aforementioned information is documented in a statement that was endorsed by Mrs. Modupe Ogundoro, the Director of Information at the Federal Ministry of Justice, and was released on Sunday in Abuja.

It has been stated that Emefiele engaged in a plea bargain with the government, wherein he agreed to forfeit a sum of N50 billion in order to expedite his release from the custody of the Department of the State Service (DSS).

The plea deal was purportedly intended to halt the trial of the former Chief of the Central Bank of Nigeria on multiple counts, including money laundering, violation of the Public Procurement Act, and misuse of authority.

Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asserted that there has been no correspondence or interaction between his office or the Presidency and Emefiele.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been made aware of a report by Sahara Reporters which claims that Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Federal Government of Nigeria have reached an agreement on a non-prosecution plea bargain arrangement.

According to the report, it is alleged that Emefiele, along with the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, have entered into a non-prosecution plea bargain deal. It is further stated that this agreement is currently pending the signature of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice unequivocally asserts that these reports are entirely devoid of truth.

It is worth mentioning that during the previous court session, the legal representatives of Mr. Godwin Emefiele expressed their intention to commence a plea bargain arrangement.

Nevertheless, there has been no agreement established with Emefiele or his representatives.

We humbly request that the media and others of the public disregard the aforementioned erroneous report.

According to the statement, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will persist in doing all measures that serve the welfare of the Nigerian populace.