Again, court orders EFCC to release or produce Emefiele
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court has again ordered the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to either produce or release the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on November 8.
Mr Adeniyi gave the first order on Friday after hearing an ex parte motion on the fundamental right, marked M/122/2023, in a motion on notice with the number FCT/HC/CV/040/2023, filed by Mr Emefiele.
Unfortunately, the EFCC could not obey the order at the resumed sitting on Monday as the EFCC counsel, Farouk Abdullahi, told the court that the order was not understood.
He added that the applicant could not attach some documents to his affidavit.
Mr Emefiele‘s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, had told the court that his client had been in detention for 149 days.
He, however, promised to attach the omitted documents, which, among others, were the charge.
Responding, Mr Abdullahi said the applicant had only been in EFCC custody for seven days.
After listening to their submissions, Justice Adeniyi gave a reiterated order to release the applicant or to produce him for bail on Wednesday.
He further directed the applicant‘s counsel to attach the documents omitted in support of their affidavit and serve parties.
He then adjourned the matter until Wednesday.
Mr Emeifele was first detained in June after he was removed as CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu. He was subsequently taken into the State Security Service (SSS) custody and later transferred to EFCC last week, seeking his release.
The former CBN governor, through his legal team, joined the federal government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the EFCC chairman, and the anti-corruption commission as respondents.
Meanwhile, Mr Emefiele was scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court, Maitama, on August 17 alongside two others, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro and a company, April 1616 Investment Limited.
They were to be arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on procurement fraud of N6.9 billion, conferment of advantage, and conspiracy.
The arraignment could, however, not be held due to the absence of Mr Yaro, who was said to be sick, and the matter was adjourned to August 23.
Due to the plea bargain Mr Emefiele was said to be discussing with the federal government, the matter is yet to be heard to date.
(NAN)
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