The Ikeja Special Offences Court has remanded the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his plea over alleged abuse of office and misallocation of funds totalling $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion on Monday
Emefiele, alongside his co-defendant Henry Isioma Omole, was arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi on fresh 26 counts. Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him, which were marked ID/23787c/2024 and dated April 3, 2024.
During the proceedings, Emefiele’s lawyer, A. Labo-Lawal, requested the court to grant bail to his client on self-recognisance and to allow him to continue with the bail previously granted by the Abuja court. Additionally, Labo-Lawal urged the court to extend bail to the second defendant, Omole, as granted by Justice O-Sule-Hamzat.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications. However, Justice Oshodi, after considering the submissions of both counsels, decided to remand Emefiele in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The second defendant, Omole, was remanded to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The court adjourned the case till April 11 for ruling on the bail applications and the commencement of the trial.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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