CBN Gov., Godwin Emefiele
Court says Emefiele can travel out of Abuja
Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele’s request to travel out of the FCT after granting him bail in the sum of N300million with two sureties in like sum.
Emefiele, through his lawyer, Mathew Bukka, SAN had requested for a variation of the terms in his bail conditions.
Justice Muazu added that the sureties must have landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT.
The judge also ordered the former CBN governor not to leave the court’s jurisdiction and directed him to deposit all his travel documents with the court.
At the proceedings on Thursday, Bukka urged the court to grant the prayers of his client, assuring the court that Emefiele would not jump bail if the restriction was lifted.
Bukka added that the defendant’s traveling documents are with the court, adding that given the status of the defendant, he would not jump bail.
The counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not object.
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. “
