Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has approved the request of Godwin Emefiele, the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank, to travel outside the FCT (Federal Capital Territory).
However, Emefiele is required to remain within the country.
News About Nigeria gathered that Emefiele’s lawyer, Matthew Bukka, SAN, made the request for a variation of bail terms, which was granted by the court.
As part of the bail conditions, Emefiele was initially restricted to the FCT.
While the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not object to the request, he urged the court to ensure that Emefiele provided a written undertaking to remain in the country if the plea was granted.
The charges against the former CBN governor were amended from 6 to 20, including criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Emefiele was granted bail on December 24, 2023, in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.
The charges against him relate to procurement fraud and conferring a corrupt advantage by awarding a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020 to a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Yaro.
Following his arrest last June, Emefiele challenged his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the FCT High Court, which issued a one-week ultimatum to either charge him or release him.
Emefiele was suspended as the CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu, leading to his initial arrest by the DSS.
