The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has complied with the court’s direction by bringing former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele to court for the hearing of his bail plea.
Emefiele, who has been detained by security agents for more than 149 days, was ordered by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to be released unconditionally or brought before court to hear his bail plea.
The former CBN Governor arrived in the courtroom at 12:30 p.m., dressed in a yellow Kaftan and a cap and flanked by EFCC operatives.
On Monday, Justice Adeniyi upheld his order that the jailed former CBN Governor be brought to court today, November 8, to be admitted to bail.
At the resumption of the trial, Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, requested that his client be granted to bail on liberal terms after being detained by security forces for 151 days. He applied for this under Section 35 (4a and b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Onyi Koleosho, Counsel for the Attorney General of the Federation and the Federal Government, objected to the bail motion, pointing out that Emefiele was handed to the custody of the EFCC on October 26, and that date is not up to two months.
He claimed that the court has issued a hearing notice stating that Emefiele will be arraigned on November 15, 2023, in relation to a pending charge brought by the AGF’s office.
He stated that the court should deny the application for Emefiele’s release in the interest of justice and to avoid a situation in which the scheduled arraignment would interfere with investigations, and that releasing him would create additional problems and difficulties for the prosecution in getting him to appear in court next week for his arraignment.
Farouk Abdallah, counsel for the EFCC, acknowledged that bail is at the discretion of the judge.
Parties may, however, present facts to the court in order for it to make a decision that will help it meet the Justice of the case.
In a subsequent submission, Emefiele’s counsel stated that his client had yet to be served with any charges. He informed the court that the former CBN governor is not a flight risk and that the Federal Government will not be able to prevent his arraignment next week.
Noting that his client had been detained the entire time, the lawyer stated that Nigeria would gain nothing by allowing Emefiele bail.
Emefiele was also given the opportunity to address the court during the proceedings. He stated that he has not been charged as of yet.
The EFCC’s counsel, on the other hand, stated he is surprised by these accusations because Emefiele was supposed to take his plea before a sister court (Justice Muazu).
