An Abuja High Court, sitting at Maitama, has granted bail to the detained former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele after 151 days in detention.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, and it ordered that Emefiele should be released to his lawyers.
The judge emphasized the importance of ending detention without trial and pointed out that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, has failed to comply with the court’s previous order issued on November 2, which led to this ruling.
The court also rejected the government’s claim that Emefiele would be arraigned on a fresh charge on November 15, considering it speculative and lacking evidence to establish that the planned arraignment would occur as scheduled.
Furthermore, the court noted discrepancies in the dates on a purported remand order presented by the Federal Government’s lawyer, signed by an Abuja Chief Magistrate.
Justice Adeniyi highlighted that the applicant had been in custody for over 151 days without trial and referenced section 298(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, which empowers the court to make necessary orders, even when there is a remand order against an applicant.
Emefiele was ordered by the judge to be released right away to his attorneys, who were to bring him into court for his arraignment the following week or on any other day.
The judge stated that the former bank chief must also turn in his travel documents to the chief registrar of the court while awaiting his arraignment and that his detention without charge or trial must end.
The Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation are required to follow the court’s order, and the court cannot ignore the fact that he has been detained for 151 days.
Remember how Emefiele was detained by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission after being released from the Department of State Services?
This ruling grants bail to Mr. Godwin Emefiele and emphasizes the importance of respecting the rights of individuals in the criminal justice process.
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