Court orders remand of Emefiele, former CBN governor

Admin I Monday, April 08, 2024

 

IKEJA – A Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja today ordered that the former Governor of  Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele be remanded in custody.

Justice Rahman Oshodi ordered that Emefiele be remanded in EFCC custody while his co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile was remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre where he was currently held pending the determination of their bail application slated for April 11.

The Defendants counsel, Mr A. Labi- Lawal had in his two bail application urged the court to grant the defendants bail on self recognizance and on liberal terms pending the determination on the case.

Labi-Lawal, in his 31 affidavits, said that the first defendant (Emefiele) had complied with the bail application which was given to him by Justice Muazu in his alleged fraud trial case going on in Abuja.

He said the charges were bailable offences and not a capital offence.

According to him: “Though the first defendant was granted administrative bail by the prosecuting authority.

“He is seeking for bail based on self recognizance 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.”

The defence counsel said that 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), however, 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 to for a trial date, following the plea of the defendants.