Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT High Court issued an order on Thursday directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately release the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, or bring him before the court on November 6.
The order was given following the court’s consideration of an ex parte motion, marked M/122/2023, filed by Emefiele in a Motion on Notice with the number FCT/HC/CV/040/2023. Emefiele had been in detention since June, after his removal as CBN Governor, initially by the Department of State Service (DSS) and later transferred to the EFCC last week. The motion sought his release.
Emefiele, represented by his legal team, listed the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the EFCC chairman, and the anti-corruption commission as respondents in the case.
In his ruling, Justice Adeniyi ordered the EFCC to either unconditionally release the plaintiff or applicant or, as an alternative, bring him before the court next Monday, when the Motion on Notice will be heard. The purpose of this appearance is to consider Emefiele’s admission to bail.
Emefiele had been scheduled for arraignment by the Federal Government before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court in Maitama on August 17, along with two others, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro and the company April1616 Investment Limited. The charges against them involved procurement fraud amounting to N6.9 billion, as well as conferment of advantage and conspiracy.
However, the arraignment did not proceed as planned due to Yaro’s reported illness, and the matter was adjourned to August 23. Subsequently, due to discussions regarding a possible plea bargain between Emefiele and the Federal Government, the case remains pending and has not been heard.
