Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been granted bail by an Abuja High Court, following a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on his behalf. Justice Olukayode Adeniyi delivered the ruling, emphasizing the need to end detention without trial.
The court ordered Emefiele’s release to his legal team, highlighting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) failure to comply with the court’s previous order on November 2. It was noted that the Federal Government’s claim of a fresh charge against Emefiele on November 15 was speculative, with conflicting dates on the purported remand order presented.
Justice Adeniyi stressed that Emefiele had been in detention for over 151 days without trial, asserting the court’s authority to make necessary orders even in the presence of a remand order. Emefiele was directed to surrender his international documents to the court’s senior registrar.
The former CBN Governor had been in detention for approximately five months and had faced charges related to illegal firearm possession and corruption. Proceedings were temporarily suspended to explore a plea bargain with the government. The ruling grants Emefiele bail, ensuring his release until the next court appearance on November 17.
Emefiele was suspended from his position by President Bola Tinubu on June 9 and subsequently arrested at his Lagos residence by the Department of State Services (DSS). The case has garnered significant attention and scrutiny, and this latest ruling offers a glimmer of hope for the former CBN governor’s legal situation.