Lagos court remands ex-CBN governor Emefiele over alleged abuse of office

In a significant legal development, a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has ordered the remand of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The decision came after Emefiele and his co-defendant, Herry Omoile, pleaded not guilty to a 26-count charge levelled against them by the EFCC, bordering on abuse of office.

Presiding Judge Rahman Oshodi issued the remand order during the arraignment proceedings.

Emefiele will remain in EFCC custody until Thursday, pending the judge’s decision on his bail application. Meanwhile, Omoile was remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services.

Prior to the court’s ruling, Emefiele’s legal representative, Abdulakeem Ladi-Lawal, appealed for bail on his client’s behalf, proposing self-recognition or the most liberal bail terms possible.

Ladi-Lawal requested that Emefiele be released to his lawyers pending the fulfilment of bail conditions.

While the EFCC did not oppose the bail application, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the EFCC prosecutor, urged the judge to impose conditions ensuring the defendants’ appearance in court for trial.

The charges against Emefiele and Omoile include accepting gratification, receiving gifts through agents, corruption, fraudulent property receipts, and conferring corrupt advantage on associates, contravening the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000.

These allegations were filed by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on April 3.

It’s worth noting that Emefiele faces similar charges in a separate case before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, relating to alleged fraudulent financial transactions during his tenure as CBN governor.