BREAKING: Court orders EFCC to release or produce Godwin Emefiele

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT High Court on Thursday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimea Commission (EFCC) to either release the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, immediately or produce him in court on Nov. 6.

 

Justice Adeniyi gave the order after hearing an ex parte motion, marked M/122/2023 in a Motion on Notice with the number, FCT/HC/CV/040/2023, filed by Emefiele.

 

He was first detained by the Department of State Service (DSS) after he was sacked as CBN governor and later transferred to EFCC last week, seeking his release.

 

Emefiele, through his legal team, joined the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), EFCC chairman and the anti-corruption commission as respondents.

 

In his ruling, the judge ordered the anti-graft agency to either release the plaintiff/applicant unconditionally or in the alternative produce him before the court next Monday when the Motion on Notice would be heard for his being admitted to bail.

 

Emefiele was scheduled to be arraigned by the Federal Government before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT high court t, Maitama, on August 17 alongside two others, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro and a company, April16 Investment Limited.

 

They were to be arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on procurement fraud to the tune of N6.9 billion, conferment of advantage and conspiracy.

 

The arraignment could, however, not hold due to the absence of Yaro, who was said to be sick and the matter was adjourned on August 23.

 

Due to the plea bargain Emefiele was said to be discussing with the Federal Government, the matter is yet to be heard to date.