CITIZENS COMPASS —The legal team of Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has, secured his bail to the tune of N300N.
A Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, granted the bail on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
Emefiele is being prosecuted for alleged procurement fraud.
Justice Hamza Muazu granted the bail with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said the sureties must have certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama District
He also ordered Emefiele to deposit all his travel documents with the registrar of the court, adding that he must remain within the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The judge, however, ordered that Emefiele should remain in Kuje Correctional Centre till he meets the bail conditions.
The matter, which was scheduled for 11 am, was heard at 9 am in the absence of the suspect.
It was learnt that Emefiele was unable to perfect his bail on Wednesday.
While rejecting the objection by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Emefiele’s bail application, Justice Muazu disagreed with the anti-graft agency that the ex-CBN governor was a flight risk and could jump bail, jeopardise investigation or threaten the security of the country if granted bail
The judge noted that Emefiele was granted bail on November 8 by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal High Court, Abuja and was present in court after a week for his arraignment.
Besides, he held that bail was at the discretion of the court, according to the law.
After granting the bail application, Justice Muazu adjourned till November 28 for the commencement of the trial.
Emefiele is standing trial on six counts bordering on procurement fraud to the tune of N1.2bn.
He was arraigned on November 14 but he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application.
