Court permits Emefiele to leave Abuja

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele's plea to leave Abuja has been granted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

Emefiele had asked for a change in the terms of his bail conditions through his attorney, Mathew Bukka, SAN.

Emefiele was granted bail by FCT High Court Judge Hamza Muazu on November 22, 2023, in the amount of N300 million, accompanied by two sureties in the same amount.

The FCT's Maitama District is where the sureties must have landed property, Justice Muazu continued.

In addition, the judge told the former governor of CBN to surrender all of his travel documents to the court and to refrain from leaving the court's jurisdiction.

During Thursday's sessions, Bukka implored the court to answer his client's pleas.

If the restriction was removed, he promised the court that Emefiele would not violate his bond.

The suspect's travel paperwork are with the court, according to Bukka, who also stated that the defendant won't post bond given his current situation.

Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the attorney for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, did not raise an objection.

He said, “From experience, we have seen cases where travel documents are with the court and the defendant will travel out of the country. What they usually do is to go to the immigration and depose an affidavit that their traveling documents are missing.

“So, in addition to his traveling documents being with the court, he should write an undertaking that the defendant will remain in Nigeria for the duration of his trial. I am not in any way suggesting the defendant will jump bail. ”

Ruling, the judge held that Emefiele must remain in the country pending the conclusion of his trial.

He said, “The defendant’s application is hereby granted. He must remain in the country for the pendency of his trial. “

Source