The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been remanded in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
Justice Rahman Oshodi issued the remand order, due to allegations of office misuse and N2.8 billion and $5.5 billion in fraud,
Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, was also ordered by the judge to be held at Ikoyi Custodial Centre in the interim.
In all of his bail requests, the defendant’s attorney, Mr. A. Labi-Lawal, pleaded with the judge to release the prisoner on liberal terms and with self-recognition while the case was being tried.
In his thirty-one affidavits, Labi-Lawal claimed that the first defendant, Emefiele, had cooperated with Justice Muazu’s bail request in his reported fraud trial case, which is currently underway in Abuja.
He stated that, the charges were bailable offences and not a capital offence.
“Though the first defendant was granted administrative bail by the prosecuting authority. He is seeking for bail based on self recognition and he is ready to attend the court.”
“The court should also take into consideration, the status of the first defendant as he was the former CBN governor of the country,” he said.
The defence counsel said his client had religiously presented himself before Justice Muazu in Abuja to answer the allegations before him.
According to him, the first defendant was not at flight risk, as he was the first person to arrive in court.
He also prayed the court to release Emefiele to lawyer, pending the determination of the bail.
Emefiele and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property receipt.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty, following their arraignment.
The EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail application moved by the defence counsel.
Oyedepo, however, urged the court to exercise its discretion judiciously in granting bail to the defendants.
The prosecution had asked the court for a trial date, following the plea of the defendants.
