By Abiola Olawale
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Maitama has struck out a plea by the immediate-past governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to travel out of the country for a routine medical appointment.
The presiding judge, Justice Hamza Mu’azu, declined Emefiele’s request because he failed to provide any evidence to establish that he was suffering from any life-threatening ailment.
Justice Mu’azu also held that there was no medical report was produced to support the claim that the former CBN boss was ill.
The judge ruled: “It is an exercise of the court’s discretion to allow the defendant to go on a medical trip. The defendant through his counsel undertook an affidavit to produce him in court, and his offences are bailable where there is a need for the court to grant him the application to travel, the court should do so, but as it is, I failed to see any letter of medication in the defendant’s applications.
“As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the defendant to travel out of the shores of the country, moreover he is also standing trial in three other courts, therefore the application has failed, and is hereby dismissed.”
The New Diplomat reports that Emefiele through his team of lawyers, had pleaded with the court to permit him to visit the United Kingdom for a medical check-up.
He specifically prayed the court to release to him, the international passport he surrendered as part of the conditions upon which he was released on bail.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which is prosecuting him, opposed the application.
The anti-graft agency, through its lawyer, Muhammad Omeiza, filed a counter-affidavit to challenge the request. It argued that no medical report was tendered before the court by the defendant.
It would be recalled that Emefiele has been facing stormy waters and is being tried for alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5bn and N2.8bn.
He is facing trial on corruption charges in federal courts located in Abuja and the Lagos State.
EFCC slammed a 26-count charge against Emefiele and one of his allies, Omole.
The charge, marked ID/23787c/2024, dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
EFCC alleged that Emefiele committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, of abuse of office.
Emefiele is also facing trial on counts bordering on accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, receipt of property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage on his associates contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000.
