Emefiele’s arraignment fails to happen with defendant absent

The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, could not be arraigned on Thursday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

Emefiele was present in court, but the arraignment could not go on 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, hence her absence.

Abubakar apologized to the court and applied for a new date for 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.

Operatives of the Department of the State Service (DSS) who brought Emefiele to court under heavy security returned him to their custody.