The Federal Government has debunked as false, a report that it entered into a N50billion plea bargain deal with the detained former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in a statement on Sunday, distanced himself from such out-of-court settlement arrangement, adding that all his actions in relation to the case, would be in public interest.
It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had on June 9, suspended Emefiele from office as the head of the apex bank.
He was later arrested the next day at his Lagos residence by the Department of State Services.
Emefiele had since then, faced a two-count charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition before the Federal High Court in Lagos, as well as a 20-count corruption charge that FG entered against him and two others before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama.
However, proceedings in both cases were put on hold, following the decision of the defendants to explore a plea bargain deal with FG.
A plea bargain is a negotiated term of settlement in criminal trials that allows a defendant to plead guilty to a lesser offence or reduced charge, in exchange for a reduction in sentence or dismissal of the charges.
The terms of agreement between the prosecution and the defendant are subsequently accepted by the trial court which adopts same as its judgement in the matter.
Such arrangement is allowed under section 270(1) & (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
In the statement he made available to newsmen on Sunday through the Director (Press and Public Relations), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Modupe Ogundoro, the AGF, said there was no truth in a report that he okayed a N50bn plea bargain deal with the erstwhile CBN governor.
The statement, which was made available to Vanguard, read: "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, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Federal Government of Nigeria, have agreed to a nonprosecution plea bargain arrangement.
"The report further alleges that Mr. Godwin 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, GCFR.
"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 Mr. Godwin 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."
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