The Federal Capital Territory High Court has denied the plea by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele which requested permission to obtain his international passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom for a follow-up medical check-up.
It was earlier reported, that the EFCC’s legal team had opposed Emefiele’s application to travel out, according to Nairametrics.
Recall that the Federal Capital Territory High Court was informed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 2024 that Emefiele and nine other officials of the apex bank were implicated in allegedly approving multi-billion dollar contracts to his brother-in-law, wife Margaret, and staff members of the apex bank, Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro.
Emefiele was charged with awarding contracts in violation of the law before Judge Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
It alleged that the CBN, acting through Emefiele, approved various contracts to Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a director of April 1616 Investment Ltd., for the supply of over 45 Toyota Hilux vehicles, with prices ranging from N854, 700,000 to N99,900,000.
Emefiele’s wife, Margaret, and his brother-in-law were directors and major shareholders at Architecom Nigeria Ltd, a company that was said to have been contracted by the apex bank to renovate the CBN governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos state.
Emefiele denied the allegations and subsequently applied to the court for leave to travel to the UK from July 28 and return on September 10, 2024.
However, Muhammad Abbas Omeiza, the EFCC’s attorney, argued that there was no medical evidence in front of the court demonstrating Emefiele’s illness.
He emphasized that the troubled governor is facing charges in three separate courts.
Omeiza said, “The defendant has co-conspirators all over the world. One Anita and Tony are all aides of the defendant who are currently in the UK. The defendant might be tempted to jump bail because he is standing trial in three different courts.”
However, Emefiele’s defense team urged the judge to reject the EFCC’s claims, promising to have their client show up for the trial.
Justice Mu’azu then fixed today for ruling on Emefiele’s application.
In his Tuesday ruling on the motion, Justice Muazu stated that the defendant is, in reality, deemed innocent until his case is resolved.
He said, however, that Emefiele failed to produce a letter from the UK hospital outlining, among other things, his medical issues.
“As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the applicant to travel outside Nigeria, ” the judge held.
The judge also observed that Emefiele is facing criminal charges in three different courts.
“The application fails and is hereby dismissed, ” the judge ruled.
Emefiele was arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices and forgery instituted by EFCC.
