After 151 days in the custody of security agencies, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday admitted former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele to conditional bail. The Court In spite of stiff opposition from the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and the Economic and Financial
After 151 days in the custody of security agencies, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday admitted former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele to conditional bail.
The Court In spite of stiff opposition from the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permitted Emefiele to go home and prepare for his November 15 arraignment.
Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi who granted the bail anchored his decision on the fact that Emefiele had stayed in government custody beyond the time stipulated by law.
“There must be an end to detention without trial by the Federal Government”, Justice Adeniyi stressed.
The Judge also said the Federal Government had completed investigation into the allegations against the former CBN governor and had even prepared the charges against him as far back as August this year.
In a ruling on the application for bail argued by Mr. Mathew Burkaa, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)Justice Adeniyi held that it is in the best interest of justice and fair play especially the provision of section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to follow the rule of law.
Both the Federal Government, and AGF represented by Mr. Oyin Koleoso Esq. strongly objected to Mr. Emefiele’s request for bail on the ground that he would interfere with the November 15 arraignment
He, however, did not inform the court how the interference would be done.
Mr. Farouk Abudalla, counsel to the antigraft agency insisted that Mr. Emefiele had not spent three months in its own custody and urged the Court to refuse the bail request.
Mr. Mathew Burkaa, counsel to the applicant, however , debunked the arguments of the Federal Government stressing that the claim of likelihood of interference in arraignment was speculative because his client was not declared a flight risk.
He pleaded with Justice Adeniyi to disregard the claim of EFCC that Mr. Emefiele was brought to its custody on October 26.
The Silk informed the Court that the former CBN boss was investigated by a team of inter Ministerial Investigators from EFCC, Police and Department of the State Service (DSS) which jointly constituted government agency.
Justice Adeniyi, however, ruled that Mr. Emefiele must be released to his counsel Mr. Burkaa SAN who must produce him any day the Federal Government chooses to arraign him.
He also directed that Mr. Emefiele should deposit his travelling passport with the Registrar of the Court pending his formal arraignment.
