A Lagos Special Offences Court Judge, Rahman Oshodi has remanded former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele for allegations of abuse of office to commit alleged fraud of $4.5bn and N2.8bn
Justice Oshodi remanded Emefiele in EFCC custody while his co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, was remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending the determination of their bail application on April 11.
In his two bail applications, the defendant’s counsel, Abdulhakeem Labi-Lawal, urged the court to grant bail on self-recognizance and liberal terms pending the case’s resolution.
Mr Labi-Lawal stated in his 31 affidavits that Emefiele had complied with Justice Muazu’s bail application in his ongoing fraud trial in Abuja.
Although the prosecutor granted administrative bail to the first defendant, he is seeking bail based on self-recognizance, and he is willing to appear in court.
As the first defendant was the former governor of the CBN, the court should also consider his status.”
In defending his client, the defence counsel maintained that he had appeared religiously before Justice Muazu in Abuja to answer the allegations.
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In his opinion, the first defendant was not at flight risk since he arrived at court first.
Emefiele and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property receipts.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty, following their arraignment
However, the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) did not oppose the bail application moved by the defence counsel.
Mr Oyedepo, however, urged the court to exercise its discretion judiciously to grant the defendants bail.
The prosecution had asked the court for a trial date, following the plea of the defendants.
