Emefiele released on bail, faces procurement fraud charges
Story from Fatima Adamu, Abuja.
Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been released from Kuje Correctional Centre after his legal team fulfilled his bail conditions.
Emefiele, who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in June and subsequently suspended as CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu, faced six-count charges involving procurement fraud.
Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in a like sum.
Emefiele was accused of using his position to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Yaro, a CBN staff, by awarding a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020. The trial for these charges has already commenced before Justice Hamza Muazu.
During his remand, Emefiele was required to deposit all his travel documents with the court registrar and stay within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
READ ALSO: Emefiele’s alleged financial misconducts exposed in detailed investigation report
Emefiele’s legal team approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, challenging his detention by the DSS, and Justice Hamza Muazu issued a one-week ultimatum to the DSS to either charge him to court or release him while delivering a ruling on the fundamental human rights suit filed by Emefiele.
Addressing the circumstances of his arrest, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya stated, “The public, particularly the Media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.”
The latest development sees Emefiele regaining freedom as his legal battles on charges of procurement fraud continue in the Nigerian judicial system.
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