The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been released after perfecting the bail conditions set by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
News About Nigeria reports that he returned home after the court session on Friday.
Earlier in the week, the court remanded Emefiele in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
However, Justice Rahman Oshodi granted him bail on Friday with a bond of N50 million and two sureties of equal value.
Recall that on Monday, the EFCC charged Emefiele before the court on a 26-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and irregular allocation of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion respectively.
In Friday’s court session, the EFCC presented its first witness, Monday Osazuwa, a former staff member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Osazuwa testified about how Emefiele directed him to collect $3 million in cash on various occasions.
During questioning by the prosecution counsel, Osazuwa detailed his dealings with Emefiele, stating that he received instructions through WhatsApp and email.
He also mentioned his involvement in handling cash transactions for Dumies Oil and Gas Limited, a company associated with Emefiele.
Osazuwa confirmed that Henry Isioma Omoile, the second defendant, resided in Emefiele’s house and acted as an intermediary for instructions.
The trial is set to continue on April 29, with some prosecution witnesses requesting a closed session.
Emefiele was suspended as CBN governor by President Tinubu in June 2023, when the latter stepped into office.
Emefiele was subsequently arrested and charged in July 2023 and later released on bail after being re-arrested by the Department of State Services
Aside from the case in Lagos, there is an ongoing trial involving Emefiele at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In the Abuja case, the anti-corruption commission accused the former CBN governor of criminal conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust, among others.
