Court to EFCC: Release or produce Emefiele on Wednesday

An FCT High Court has again ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to either produce or release the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

The presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, gave the first order on Friday after hearing an ex parte motion, on fundamental right marked M/122/2023 in a Motion on Notice with the number, FCT/HC/CV/040/2023, filed by Emefiele.

The EFCC could not obey the order at the resumed sitting on Monday as the EFCC counsel, Farouk Abdullaha, told the court that the order was not understood.

Abdullahi added that the applicant could not attach some documents to his affidavit.

Emefiele ‘s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, had earlier told the court that his client has been in detention of the Federal Government for 149 days.

He, however, promised that he would attach the omitted documents which among others were the charge.

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Responding, Abdullahi, said the applicant has only been in EFCC custody for seven days.

After listening to their submissions, Justice Adeniyi gave a reiterated order for the release of Emefiele or produce him for bail on Wednesday.

He further directed the applicant‘s counsel to attach the documents omitted in support of their affidavit and serve parties.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the matter until Wednesday.

Emeifele was first detained in June, when he was removed as CBN Governor, by the Department of State Services (DSS) and later transferred to EFCC last week.

Seeking his release, Emefiele, through his legal team, joined the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), EFCC chairman, and the anti-graft agency as respondents.

Meanwhile, the former CBN Governor was scheduled to be arraigned by the Federal Government before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court in Maitama on August 17 alongside two others, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro and a company, April1616 Investment Limited.

They were to be arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on procurement fraud to the tune of N6.9 billion, conferment of advantage and conspiracy.

The arraignment could, however, not hold due to the absence of Yaro, who was said to be sick and the matter was adjourned to August 23.

Due to the plea bargain Emefiele was said to be discussing with the Federal Government, the matter is yet to be heard till date.

The Star