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Court Grants Emefiele Bail 

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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama has granted bail to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi admitted Emefiele to bail in a ruling delivered on Wednesday.
The Judge ordered that the embattled former CBN boss be released immediately to his lawyers and must be produced in court on November 15 when he is billed to be arraigned before another judge of the High Court of the FCT in a charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him (Emefiele) and one other or when needed.

Justice Adeniyi, also ordered the ex-CBN chief to deposit all his travel documents with the court’s registrar.

Justice Adeniyi had on November 2, ordered the EFCC to produce the detained former CBN governor to Court on November 8 for the purpose of admitting him to bail.

In the alternative, the Judge directed the anti-graft agency to either grant bail to Emefiele or allow the court to admit him to bail in line with the provisions of the law on fundamental human rights.

However, the agency failed to comply with the order when the matter came up for hearing last Monday, prompting the court to reaffirm the order.

The Commission, in compliance with the latest court order, brought Emefiele to court on Wednesday at about 12.30pm.

In his ruling, Justice Adeniyi reasoned that there must be an end to detention, without trial.

The judge noted that the court must not overlook the fact that Emefiele has been in detention for 151 days and the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation must abide by court order.

The court has adjourned hearing on the substantive motion on notice as well as the preliminary objection to November 17, 2023.

President Bola Tinubu, had on June 9, 2023, suspended Emefiele as the apex bank chief.  He was arrested a day after by the Department of State Services (DSS) and detained in its custody.

His prolonged detention by the secret police, prompted his counsel to approach the court to enforce his fundamental rights. On July 13, 2023, the DSS announced that the suspended apex bank boss had been charged to court.

Emefiele was brought to a Lagos court by DSS operatives on July 25, 2023 in connection with another charge. He was consequently arrested and detained by the EFCC.

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