The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, granted the request of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to travel out of Abuja.
The former CBN governor, through his lawyer, Mathew Bukka, SAN had requested a variation of the terms in his bail conditions.
On November 22, 2023, Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300m with two sureties in like sum, adding that the sureties must have landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT.
The judge also directed Emefiel not to leave the court’s jurisdiction.
He again ordered him to deposit all his travel documents with the court.
At the proceedings on Thursday, Bukka urged the court to grant the prayers of his client.
He assured the court that Emefiele would not jump bail if the restriction was lifted.
Bukka added that the defendant’s traveling documents are with the court, adding that given the status of the defendant, he won’t jump bail.
The counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not object.
He said, “From experience, we have seen cases where travel documents are with the court and the defendant will travel out of the country. What they usually do is to go to the immigration and depose an affidavit that their traveling documents are missing.
“So, in addition to his traveling documents being with the court, he should write an undertaking that the defendant will remain in Nigeria for the duration of his trial. I am not in any way suggesting the defendant will jump bail. ”
Ruling, the judge held that Emefiele must remain in the country pending the conclusion of his trial.
He said, “The defendant’s application is hereby granted. He must remain in the country for the pendency of his trial. “
This is coming shortly after the Federal Government amended the charges against him.
The new charges include forgery, the conferring of corrupt advantage, and criminal breach of trust among others, adding to the initial 19 charges against him.