Justice Adegbola Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued a ruling for the immediate and unconditional release of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
The decision stems from Emefiele’s filing of a Motion Ex-parte, where he sought release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while awaiting the hearing of the Originating Motion.
Alternatively, the court has instructed the EFCC to present Emefiele in court on Monday, November 6, 2023, the scheduled date for the substantive Motion on Notice.
There is a possibility of Emefiele being granted bail by the court during this hearing.
The respondents in this case are the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and the EFCC itself.
Emefiele, in his Ex-parte motion, requested an order compelling the EFCC to release him from custody during the determination of his fundamental right enforcement suit. Additionally, he sought bail from the court.
On June 9, President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele from his position as the head of the apex bank.