An Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered the remand of Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in prison.
Recall Justice Olukayode Adeniyi had ordered his unconditional release last week after spending over five months in custody.
However, He was arraigned today by the EFCC on six count charge before Justice Hamza Muazu.
While Emefiele’s counsel moved an application for his bail, EFCC’s counsel opposed the application.
After giving the order for Emefiele’s remand, the judge adjourned the case till November 22, 2023.
Background
Emefiele was rearrested in June at the court premises by operatives of the SSS after a tussle with prison officers.
Despite opposition from the FG during Emefiele’s bail application last week, Justice Adeniyi ruled that the issue before him was the court’s order for Emefiele’s unconditional release, not his bail application.
Emefiele’s initial arrest in Lagos on June 10, following his suspension from office by President Bola Tinubu, led to subsequent charges of alleged unlawful possession of firearms in Lagos and corruption charges in Abuja.
The Department of State Service (DSS) initially refused bail, and he was later handed over to the EFCC three weeks ago.
After challenging his prolonged detention in court and securing an ex parte order for unconditional release, Emefiele spent 151 days in custody before his recent release.
Justice Adeniyi, on November 2, ordered the EFCC to release Emefiele or produce him in court on November 6.
However, the Commission failed to comply, leading to an adjournment to November 8, with the judge insisting on the court’s order for Emefiele’s unconditional release.
Justice Adeniyi emphasized that releasing Emefiele did not prevent his future arraignment by the federal government.
He ordered the government to release Emefiele to his legal team, led by Mathew Burkaa, for arraignment on November 15 or any other date.
The court also mandated Emefiele to deposit his travel documents pending the hearing of the motion on notice or his arraignment before Justice Muazu of the same FCT High Court.