A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday granted former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, bail after spending 151 days in detention.
The court presided over by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi ruled in favour of the former CBN governor in the fundamental human rights enforcement suit he filed against his lengthy detention.
Justice Adeniyi said his decision was based on an earlier order made on November 2, 2023 that Emefiele be released unconditionally by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
The EFCC counsel had told the court before the ruling that the agency could not act on the order made on November 2 because Emefiele’s lawyer provided incomplete court documents as regards the order.
The court subsequently ruled that Emefiele be released to his team of lawyers led by Matthew Burkaa Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The court
said part of the bail condition is that his counsel should produce him in court on November 15 in the allegations of procurement fraud levelled against him by the anti-graft agency. Emefiele has also been ordered to deposit his passport and travel documents with the court.
Emefiele was suspended as the CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu on June 9.
He was arrested the following at his Lagos home by the Department of State Services (DSS) and arraigned by the agency over charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The federal government also entered a 20-count charge of corruption against Emefiele and two others before an Abuja High Court.
But the two suits have been on hold because of the decision of the defense team to explore a plea bargain with the federal government.
Emefiele was taken into the EFCC custody after he was released by the DSS on October 27.
