The embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, was on Monday admitted to N2 billion bail by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court on Monday admitted the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in a fresh charge of property fraud.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed an eight-count charge against him in respect of the disputed 753 Abuja duplexes.
The said property located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, measures 150,462.86 SQM and comprises 753 housing units.
When the charge was read to Emefiele, he pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, his counsel, Mathew Burkaa SAN applied for bail, which was not opposed to by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
Oyedepo, however, asked the court to expunge some paragraphs in the bail application, which the court granted.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Halilu held that bail is a constitutional right, noting that the defendant (Emefiele) had been granted bail by two other judges and he did not go against the conditions and terms.
Justice Halilu said, “I admit the defendant to bail on the terms and conditions that the defendant’s travel documents which is already before justice Muazu is hereby attached as part of the condition.
“The defendant shall provide two sureties who must be residents of Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court.
“The sureties must own landed property within the jurisdiction of this court precisely in Asokoro, Maitama and Wuse 2 which valued at N2 billion”.
Justice Halilu further ordered that the sureties to undertake to produce the defendant in court always all through his trial, cautioning that in the event the defendant jumped bail, they (sureties) would be put in prison.
Emefiele was granted from Monday to Wed (June 18) to vacate the ball or risk going to prison. He then adjourned until July 11 for continuation.