Court rules on Emefiele’s request for overseas’ medical trip July 8

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja has slated July 8, 2024, for ruling on the prayer of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for the release of his international passport to enable him to travel overseas for medical attention.

The presiding judge, Justice Hamza Mua’zu, declared this on Tuesday, June 25.

Emefiele’s counsel, Mathew Burkaa, had during the day’s proceedings informed Justice Mua’zu of his client’s subsisting application in respect of his overseas medical check-up which the judge deferred ruling on till July 8.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), presented Prosecution Witness 8, Umar Abba Tilde, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank; and Prosecution Witness 9, Abibiya Ockiya Ogeleye, a legal practitioner with A&A Legal Consociate which offered legal services to Architekun Nigeria Limited, a contractor company for CBN, owned by the former CBN Governor’s wife, Margaret Emefiele and her brother Jonathan Omoile.

Tilde, in his testimony, identified Emefiele’s statement of account and certificate of identification which were signed by him and later sent by the bank to the EFCC upon request in July 2023. They were marked exhibits and admitted in evidence.

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Testifying further under Oyedepo’s guidance, the witness disclosed that Emefiele authorised the transfer of N4 million to Architekun Nigeria Limited and that the former CBN boss had an additional 10 bank accounts with Zenith Bank, which according to the witness, consist of salaries, investments, and savings accounts.

Ogeleye, in her testimony, disclosed that her firm rendered legal services to Architekun Nigeria Limited.

She said: “We rendered incorporation matters with CAC for the company, filed their annual reports, and changed the directors of the company as well the shareholders of the company.

“In 2021, one Madam Esther Omoile called and asked me to add her as the director of the company.”

“The transfer of shareholders was in Page 5 and 6. The shares of Omoile Lakunbo were transferred to Omoile Margaret. The share is 90,000 ordinary shares, and the date was March 4, 2020. Lakunbo also transferred 100,000 shares to Esther. Three directors in the company during registration with CAC are Omoile Lakunbo, Omoile Margaret, and Esther Oyeladu.”

Justice Mu’azu, thereafter, adjourned the matter till October 21, 22, and 23, 2024, for the continuation of trial.

The Star