EFCC Arraigns Emefiele On Six Counts Of Alleged N1.6bn Procurement Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday arraigned a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele over alleged money laundering and abuse of office.
He was arraigned before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja on six-count charges.
When the charges were read to him, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court to refuse him bail as he would jump bail.
But his lawyer, Matthew Burkaa (SAN) asked the court to grant his client bail because he has suffered unduly.
He also made an application to the court on where Emefiele should be kept.
According to him, the court should use its discretion to grant him bail.
“We have placed evidence before your Lordship that the defendant will not jump bail. But the plaintiff has not given sufficient evidence that he would jump bail. We urge your Lordship to grant him bail”, he argued.
The judge in his ruling said the ex-CBN Governor should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre till November 22 for the determination of his application for bail.
Meanwhile, November 28 has been fixed for the commencement of his trial.
He will also appear before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of same FCT High Court for a fundamental human rights enforcement, having been illegally detained for 151 days.
