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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Thursday, granted the application by a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to travel out of Abuja.
Justice Hamza Muazu had on November 22, 2023, admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of N300m and two sureties in like sum.
The judge added that the sureties must have landed properties in the Maitama district of the FCT.
He further ordered the former CBN governor not to leave the court’s jurisdiction and directed him to deposit all his travel documents with the court.
However, Emefiele had through his counsel, Matthew Bukka, SAN, requested for a variation of the terms in his bail conditions.
Bukka who moved the application on Thursday, 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.
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 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. ”
In his ruling, Justice Muazu 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.”
