---
title: "Nigerian court adjourns suspended central bank governor's fraud hearing"
description: "A Nigerian court in the capital Abuja adjourned a hearing on Thursday for suspended central bank governor Godwin Emefiele, who is facing a 20-count fraud charge, due to the absence of a second defendant on the case, a government lawyer said."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-08-17-nigerian-court-adjourns-suspended-central-bank-governors-fraud-hearing/"
published: "2023-08-17T13:52:04"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 115
---

# Nigerian court adjourns suspended central bank governor's fraud hearing

> A Nigerian court in the capital Abuja adjourned a hearing on Thursday for suspended central bank governor Godwin Emefiele, who is facing a 20-count fraud charge, due to the absence of a second defendant on the case, a government lawyer said.

By Reuters · Published 17 August 2023, 15:52 SAST

## Key points
- Amidst a flurry of charges and counter-charges, the plea-taking of Nigeria's suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was postponed due to a co-defendant's illness.
- Charges of alleged procurement fraud against Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele adjourned until Aug 23
- Nigerian law requires defendants to take their plea in person, so Emefiele was unable to enter a plea
- Previously charged with illegal possession of a firearm, charges were withdrawn
- Additional graft charges including “unlawful advantages” and “unlawful procurement” announced by government lawyers

## Content

The matter was adjourned to Aug 23 after a co-defendant on the indictment became ill and was unable to be in court. Nigerian law requires defendants to take their plea in person.

Emefiele, who is being charged alongside a central bank employee and a private firm for alleged procurement fraud, was therefore unable to enter a plea.

Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Tinubu in June and has already pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing a firearm illegally -- charges which were subsequently withdrawn.

Government lawyers on Tuesday announced additional graft charges against the governor, including allegedly "conferring unlawful advantages" and "unlawful procurement".

(Reporting by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Camillus Eboh; editing by Christina Fincher)