The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was chastised for failing to bring former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele before the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The court had previously ordered the EFCC to either unconditionally release Emefiele or bring him to court for a bail hearing, but the agency did not comply.
On November 2, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi issued the order. When the case was reopened in court, Emefiele’s lawyer argued that the EFCC had ignored the direction, highlighting that his client had been detained for 149 days. This sparked questions about the former CBN governor’s protracted imprisonment and whether the EFCC was following right legal procedures.
The EFCC’s counsel responded by confirming that they had received the court order but arguing that Emefiele had only been in their custody for seven days. He also alleged that the paperwork submitted by Emefiele’s legal team had flaws, such as missing exhibits.
Justice Adeniyi upheld the court’s directions and offered the EFCC another chance to comply. He ordered the EFCC to either unconditionally free Emefiele or produce him in court for a bail hearing on the next postponed date, November 8.
Emefiele’s case has gotten a lot of attention, with many people questioning the conditions of his detention and the necessity for due process to be followed in his case.
