The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Excessive Court docket has dismissed a request by former governor of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele searching for to entry his worldwide passport to allow him to journey to the UK for a follow-up medical check-up.
The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC’s) authorized workforce equally opposed Emefiele’s utility to journey to the UK from July 28 and return on September 10, 2024.
LEADERSHIP remembers that the EFCC had on March 2024 instructed the FCT Excessive Court docket that Emefiele and 9 different officers on the apex financial institution allegedly accepted multi-billion naira contracts to his spouse, Margaret; his brother-in-law, and a employees of the apex financial institution, Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro.
Emefiele was arraigned earlier than Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT Excessive Court docket over alleged unlawful award of contracts.
The anti-graft company alleged that Yaro, a director at April 1616 Funding Ltd was awarded a number of contracts by the CBN beneath the purview of Emefiele for the provision of over 45 Toyota Hilux Autos starting from N854, 700,000, to N99,900,000.
Emefiele’s spouse, Margaret, and his brother-in-law had been administrators and main shareholders at Architecom Nigeria Ltd, an organization that was stated to have been contracted by the apex financial institution to renovate the CBN governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The previous CBN governor nevertheless denied all allegations in opposition to him.
However the EFCC’s counsel, Muhammad Abbas Omeiza, contended that there was no medical report earlier than the court docket to point out that Emefiele was stricken by an ailment.
Omeiza additionally insisted that the embattled former CNB governor is going through instances at three totally different courts.
Ruling on the appliance on Tuesday, Justice Muazu stated it’s a proven fact that the defendant is presumed harmless pending the dedication of his case.
He stated, nevertheless, that Emefiele didn’t present any letter from the UK hospital exhibiting his medical situations amongst different issues to justify the request.
“Because it stands, I can not train my discretion to permit the applicant to journey exterior Nigeria,” the choose held.
The choose additionally noticed that Emefiele is going through felony costs in three totally different courts.
“The applying fails and is hereby dismissed,” the choose dominated.
