Godwin Emefiele: Court orders unconditional release of ex-CBN gov

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued an order for the unconditional and immediate release of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. The decision came as a result of an ex-parte motion filed by Mr. Emefiele himself.

Justice O.A. Adeniyi, presiding over the case, made this significant ruling, which followed Mr. Emefiele’s request for release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The release is to be enacted pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion related to his case.

After a careful consideration of the motion, Justice Adeniyi ordered the immediate release of Mr. Emefiele from detention. The former CBN governor had listed the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and the EFCC itself as the respondents in the case.

The court has also directed the 3rd and 4th respondents, which include the Executive Chairman and the EFCC, to promptly release Mr. Emefiele from detention. Alternatively, they are instructed to produce him in court on the scheduled date for the hearing of the substantive motion on notice. In such an event, there is the possibility of Mr. Emefiele being admitted to bail by the court.

The court has set the date for the hearing of the substantive motion on notice for Monday, November 6, 2023, marking a crucial milestone in this legal proceeding.