The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned the former governor Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on fresh charges related to the unlawful acquisition of the recovered 753 housing units.
In the new charges filed against Emefiele, the anti-corruption agency accused him of stealing, and forgery, among others, in the new eight counts brought against him.
The judge, Yusuf Halilu, subsequently granted him bail after Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Matthew Bukar contended in his argument for bail that the defendant is a well-known figure standing trial in three other courts, where he has consistently attended trial while on bail.
But EFCC’s prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, pleaded with the court to set bail conditions other than the ones imposed by other judges in the other trials taking into cognisance the peculiarity of the case.
The judge, Halilu, granted the defendants bail, agreeing with the grounds canvassed by the defence lawyer.
“The defendant has been arraigned before (judges) Hamza Muazu and Maryanne Anenih, was granted bail and there is no information that he has jumped bail…the defendant has demonstrated utmost good faith,” Halilu said.
The judge then went on to set the bail conditions, including the submission of the defendant’s travel documents, currently being held as part of the bail conditions granted by Muazu.
For the fresh bail, Halilu ordered Emefiele to produce two sureties who must be resident in Abuja. He ordered that each of the sureties must possess landed property valued at N2 billion in any of Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Life Camp areas of Abuja.
The sureties are to ensure the defendant’s continuous presence throughout his trial. The judge warned that failure of the defendant to attend trial could earn his sureties an imprisonment and forfeiture of their properties put forward as bail bond.
Emeifele’s lawyer pleaded with the court to allow seven days to perfect the bail conditions.
But the judge refused the plea. He insisted the conditions must be met “between now and Wednesday,” warning that “failure to do so, the defendant goes back to prison.”
Last month, EFCC charged Emefiele, naming Eric Ocheme as a co-suspect on the run, with stealing and acquisition of multimillion dollars properties in Abuja.
The agency accused Emefiele of unlawfully acquiring an estate with 753 housing units and keeping possession of billions of naira in proxy accounts, while he was serving as the CBN governor. The commission said Mr Emefiele connived with Ocheme to acquire the properties in August 2021.
