A human rights group has condemned the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, describing it as vindictive.

 The African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) has raised concerns over the trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, accusing the federal government of persecuting him.

                                

Emefiele is currently facing multiple charges across jurisdictions, including allegations of corruption, abuse of office and illegal possession of firearms. His trial has attracted the attention of the human rights group, which is sponsoring the Annual Conference of West African Human Rights watch groups.

The conference will focus on Emefiele’s travails, among other West African leaders who have been denied a fair trial.

According to the Conference Organising Chairman, Comrade John Akufo, the event will evaluate the performance of West African governments on fairness and diligent prosecution, and how these had helped the fight against corruption. The group will also assess how the use of vindictive tools, like prolonged detention, multiple charges in different jurisdictions, media trial, and intimidation, has weakened effective corruption fight.

Since his suspension and subsequent arrest and detention, Emefiele has been dragged before four courts, especially between Lagos and Abuja. The federal government had initially arraigned him on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms before a Federal High Court in Lagos. However, last July, following an order of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for his unconditional release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a fresh 20-count charge was filed against him in Abuja.

Emefiele's arraignment on a fresh 26-count charge stalled his ongoing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court, Abuja, on April 25, forcing the Abuja court to adjourn till June for continuation of trial. This has caught the attention of human rights activists from across Africa, who have decided to focus on Emefiele’s travails at this year’s Annual Conference of West African Human Rights watch groups, holding in Accra.

The conference will also evaluate Emefiele's suspension, which occurred at the beginning of the current administration, and had political undertones, as it portended vindictive action against the CBN governor, whose policies in the build-up to the 2023 general election were viewed as targeting some politicians.

Meanwhile, some users of X have exonerated Emefiele from the current economic hardship facing the country, stating that during his tenure at the apex bank, he was in charge of exchange rate and inflation policy, while the fiscal authorities managed the economy. They argued that Emefiele's removal created an economic downturn, which the government had initially blamed on his policies. They pointed out that when Emefiele was removed, the official exchange rate was N500/$1, and the parallel market rate was N750/$1. Today, the exchange rate is N1,491/$1, and inflation is above 32 percent.