JUST IN: Court Grants Emefiele Permission to Travel

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has approved the request of Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank, to travel outside the FCT. However, the court stipulated that Emefiele must remain within the country.

Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Bukka, SAN, sought a variation of his bail terms, previously limiting him to the FCT. The Economic and Financial Crime Commission’s (EFCC) Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not object but insisted on an undertaking from Emefiele to stay in the country.

The charges against Emefiele have been amended from 6 to 20, now including criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud, and conspiracy to commit felony.

Emefiele, released from Kuje Correctional Centre after meeting bail conditions, was initially charged with procurement fraud for awarding a contract worth N1.2 billion to a CBN staff. The trial is ongoing before Justice Hamza Muazu.

Emefiele’s legal journey started last June when he was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) after his suspension as CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu. The court had earlier issued an ultimatum to the DSS to either charge him or release him, following Emefiele’s challenge to his detention.