By Ken Afor
After his rearrest last week Thursday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an Abuja High Court has ordered the anti-graft agency to release the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele from detention.
It could be recalled that a few minutes after his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in his four-month legal ordeal with the federal government over allegations of gross misconduct while in office, Emefiele was picked up by the EFCC.
“He’s currently being interrogated at the EFCC Headquarters, as he’s being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds amongst other things during his term as CBN governor,” a source close to the EFCC.
But on Thursday, November 2, 2023 the trial judge, Justice O. Adeniyi, who ruled on an exparte application by A. Labi-Lawal, counsel to Emefiele, ordered unconditional release of the former apex bank chief.
The respondents in the suit are the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, Chairman of EFCC and the EFCC.
The judge said Emefiele should be released and brought to court on a fixed date for hearing on the motion.
“It is, hereby, ordered: Accordingly, the 3rd (AGF) and 4th (EFCC Chairman) respondents are, hereby, ordered to unconditionally release the applicant (Emefiele) from detention forthwith or, in the alternative, produce him in court on a date fixed for hearing of the substantive motion on notice for purpose of being admitted to bail by the court,” Justice Adeniyi said.
“Accordingly, it is hereby further ordered that the motion on notice shall be heard on November 6, 2023, by 1pm prompt.
“The instant order, together with the motion on notice, shall be served on the respondents,” the judge added.
On July 25, Emefiele was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos on a charge of illegal possession of firearms and granted a N20 million bail. The charge was later dropped on August 17.
Few days later, 20 new charges were filed against him, alleging, among other things, conspiracy to commit auction fraud.
The indictment was postponed twice, and Emefiele proposed a plea deal to the federal government.
The proposed deal would have required Emefiele to step down as CBN governor and “liquidate” some of his assets.
On September 22, the CBN officially confirmed Emefiele’s resignation following the appointment of Olayemi Cardoso as the apex bank’s new governor.
