Court Orders unconditional release of Godwin Emefiele

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, Godwin Emefiele.

Justice O.A. Adeniyi delivered this ruling in response to an ex-parte motion filed by Emefiele himself.

Godwin Emefiele had filed the motion seeking his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.

The judge, after carefully considering the motion, has granted the former CBN governor’s request for release.

The respondents named in Emefiele’s motion included the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and the EFCC itself.

In response to the court’s order, the 3rd and 4th respondents (the Executive Chairman and the EFCC) have been directed to unconditionally release Emefiele from detention immediately.

Alternatively, they are instructed to present him in court on the scheduled date for the hearing of the substantive motion on notice, with the possibility of being granted bail by the court.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has set the date for the hearing of the substantive motion on notice for Monday, November 6, 2023.