A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday turned down a request by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to access his international passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom for a follow-up medical check-up.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on March 2024, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, that the accused and nine other officials of the apex bank were alleged to have illegally approved multi-billion contracts to his wife, Margaret, brother-in-law and staff of the apex bank, Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro.
Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court over the alleged illegal award of contracts.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro, a director at April 1616 Investment Ltd, was awarded several contracts by the CBN under the purview of Emefiele, for the supply of over 45 Toyota Hilux Vehicles ranging from N854, 700,000, to N99,900,000.
Emefiele’s wife, Margaret, and his brother-in-law were directors and major shareholders at Architecom Nigeria Ltd, a company that was said to have been contracted by the apex bank to renovate the CBN governor’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos state.
However, Emefiele denied the allegations and subsequently applied to the court for leave to travel to the UK from July 28 for medical check-up and return on September 10, 2024.
But the EFCC’s counsel, Barr. Muhammad Abbas Omeiza, argued that there was no medical report before the court showing that Emefiele was plagued by any ailment and that currently the embattled governor is facing cases at three different courts.
He said: “The defendant has co-conspirators all over the world. One Anita and Tony are all aides of the defendant who are currently in the UK. The defendant might be tempted to jump bail because he is standing trial in three different courts.”
As expected, Emefiele’s legal team urged the court to dismiss anti-graft agency’s arguments, assuring the court that their client would return to attend the trial, arguing that his sureties are aware of the UK hospital’s invitation regarding the need to come over for a medical check-up.
Following the arguments of the prosecution and defence counsels, Justice Mu’azu then fixed today for ruling on Emefiele’s application.
Ruling on the application today, Justice Muazu said it was a fact that the defendant is presumed innocent pending the determination of his case.
He said, however, that Emefiele did not provide any letter from the UK hospital showing his medical conditions among other things.
The Judge held: “As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the applicant travel outside Nigeria.”
The judge also observed that the former CBN governor was facing criminal charges in three different courts after which he ruled that “the application fails and is hereby dismissed.”
Emefiele was arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices and forgery instituted by EFCC but had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
