Breaking News: Emefiele Remanded in EFCC Custody for Alleged Abuse of Office
A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, was remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday. This followed his arraignment for alleged abuse of office. Justice Rahman Oshodi issued the remand order after Emefiele and his co-defendant, Herry Omoile, pleaded not guilty to a 26-count charge brought against them by the EFCC. The charges primarily revolve around abuse of office. Emefiele will remain in custody until Thursday when the judge will rule on his bail application. However, Omoile was remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Abdulakeem Ladi-Lawal, had requested the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition or on liberal terms, advocating for the same bail conditions granted by another court previously. He proposed that Emefiele be released to his lawyers pending the fulfillment of the bail terms.
The EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not oppose the bail application but urged the judge to impose conditions ensuring the defendants’ appearance in court for trial.
The charges against the defendants include accepting gratification, receiving gifts through agents, corruption, fraudulent property receipts, and conferring corrupt advantages on associates, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000. These charges were filed by EFCC Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on April 3. Emefiele is also facing prosecution by the EFCC at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over allegations of fraudulent financial transactions during his tenure in office.
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