Federal High Court in Abuja threatens arrest warrant for ex-CBN Governor Emefiele over $53m Paris Club refund judgment debt.
The Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling on Wednesday gave Emefiele till January 25 to appear in court in person. court gave Emefiele until January 25 to appear in person after his lawyer explained that all efforts to ensure his appearance had been unsuccessful as he was still in custody.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Agi, initiated a garnishee proceeding against the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to recover a judgment debt of $70 million from Linas International Limited and the Minister of Finance.
The CBN has partially paid this debt, leaving a balance of $53 million. The Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to issue a warrant for the arrest of Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the CBN, if he does not appear in court to explain the circumstances surrounding this debt.
Justice Ekwo had repeatedly ordered that Emefiele must appear before the court over the matter.
However, at the Wednesday proceedings, Emefiele’s lawyer, informed the judge that he had on Monday filed an affidavit to show cause why an arrest warrant should not be issued against Emefiele.
As previously reported, Jeremiah Utaan, a legal officer in the CBN’s Legal Department, told the court in an affidavit supporting Emefiele’s case that he was unable to appear because he had been under the Department of State Services’ custody since June 10.
“I verily believe that the cause of justice will not be served should the honourable court proceed to issue a warrant for the arrest of Emefiele”, he said.
In reaction, Justice Ekwo said flouting of court orders would not be allowed and insisted that Emefiele must appear before him.
“As for the 4th respondent, Emefiele, I have always said, contempt proceedings follow a person whether the person is still there or not.
“In this case, I have given this particular person so much liberty, so much leniency and the situation does not seem to change.
“I will adjourn the matter because the other side says they want to react to the process, so there is not much talk.
“Orders of court must be complied with and even if no one complies with the order of the court, the court must comply with its order.
“I will give you sufficient time”, Justice Ekwo said.
The judge then adjourned the matter until January 25 for Emefiele to show cause why an arrest warrant should not be issued against him.
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