Ex-CBN governor Emefiele granted bail

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the federal high court, Abuja, had granted bail to former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

At the previous hearing, the judge ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to either arraign Emfiele or release him from its custody.

Arguing for his bail, Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, said the former banner should be granted bail on liberal terms. He noted that Emfiele had been in custody of security agencies for 151 days.

Opposing the bail request, counsel for the Attorney General of the Federation and the Federal Government, Onyi Koleosho, pointed out that Emefiele was transferred to the custody of the EFCC on October 26, and that date is not up to two months.

He stated that a hearing notice has been issued by the court to the effect that Emefiele will be arraigned on 15th November 2023, in respect of a pending charge filed by the office of the AGF.

He said the court should decline the application for Emefiele’s release in the interest of justice and to avoid a situation where the scheduled arraignment may interfere with investigations.

Counsel for the EFCC, Farouk Abdallah, agreed that the issue of bail is at the discretion of the court.

Exercising his discretion, Justice Adeniyi granted him a bail.

The judge urged Emefiele’s counsel to ensure his attendance in court and that his international passport should be kept with the court’s registrar.