Former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Remanded By Lagos Court Pending Bail Determination
On Monday, Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja ordered the remand of the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This decision came after Emefiele and his co-defendant, Herry Omoile, pleaded not guilty to a fresh 26-count charge brought against them by the EFCC, bordering on abuse of office.
While Emefiele was remanded in EFCC custody pending the determination of his bail application on Thursday, his co-defendant, Omoile, was remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
During the court proceedings, the defence lawyer, Abdulakeem Ladi-Lawal, urged the court to grant bail to Emefiele on self-recognition or on the most liberal terms, emphasizing that his client should be released to his lawyers pending the perfection of the bail terms. Ladi-Lawal also requested that the bail conditions be similar to those granted earlier by Justice Hamzat Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
On the other hand, the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail application but urged the judge to impose conditions that would ensure the defendants’ presence in court for their trial.
The charges against Emefiele and his co-defendant include accepting gratification, receiving gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property receipts. Additionally, Emefiele was accused of conferring corrupt advantages on his associates, all of which contravene the Corrupt Practices Act, 2000.
The charges were filed by the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on April 3, 2024, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against the former CBN Governor and his co-accused.
