From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has granted bail to the detained former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to the tune of N300 million.
Justice Hamza Muazu, in his ruling, yesterday, further ordered the ex-CBN boss to produce two sureties, who must be resident within the FCT, Abuja, and have landed property within the Maitama District. The court had earlier ordered Emefiele to surrender all his travelling documents.
Meanwhile, the judge has now fixed November 28 to commence full-blown trial on the six-count charge slammed against Emefiele by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Before yesterday›s proceedings, the court had ordered the remand of Emefiele in Kuje Correctional Facility, pending ruling on his bail application. Justice Hamza Muazu issued the order following Emefiele’s arraignment and his plea of not guilty to a six-count amended charge filed by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF).
However, in his ruling yesterday, Justice Hamza Muazu said the charges in the case were bailable offences. He directed that Emefiele must produce two sureties who have landed property in Maitama District of the FCT, as condition for his bail perfection.
Emefiele is to submit all his travel documents with the court registrar and must remain within the Abuja Municipal Council. He is expected to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending when he meets the bail conditions. He is, in the charge marked: CR/577/2023, accused of “conferring corrupt advantage” contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.
On the last adjourned date, counsel to Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), had, while arguing the bail application, prayed the court to exercise its discretion in the ex-CBN’s favour because he has suffered for too long at the hands of the Federal Government that kept him in its custody for 151 days.
Burkaa, who tendered documents, including evidence of the bail earlier granted Emefiele by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi (also of the High Court of the FCT), said the initial bail was a temporary relief, in view of the fact that the ex-CBN governor had suffered unduly in custody. He added that the bail application was filed when the defendant had been in state’s custody for 151 days.
Burkaa argued that while the defendant had placed enough evidence before the court that Emefiele would not jump bail, the prosecution had not supplied any evidence to show that he would jump bail.
On his part the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to refuse the bail application, but, instead, grant accelerated hearing of the case. Oyedepo, who assured that the prosecution would not delay in its handling of the case, said the prosecution planned to call five witnesses in all, even though it listed eight. He said the prosecution was ready to commence trial at any date chosen by the court.
The prosecution counsel had argued that the order for bail earlier granted was in respect of a fundamental rights enforcement suit, while this one is a criminal prosecution.
Some of the six counts in the criminal charge, reads: «That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2018, did use your position as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux vehicles at the cost of N854,700,000.00 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro is a director and, thereby, committed an offence.
«That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2019, within the jurisdiction of this court, did use your position as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramailan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of one Toyota Avalon at the cost of N99,900,000.00 only to April I616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramailan Yaro is a director and, thereby, committed an offence.
«That you Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2019, did use your position as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Ramalian Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of one Toyota Land Cruiser V8 at the cost of N73 800 000 00 only to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa’adatu Ramailan Yaro is a director and, thereby, committed an offence.»