Court remands Emefiele in Kuje Correctional Facility

An Abuja High Court on Friday ordered that the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele be remanded in Kuje correctional centre until Nov 22.

Justice Hamza Muazu gave the order and adjourned until Nov. 22 when Emefiele’s bail application will be heard.

Earlier, Emefiele was arraigned on a-six court by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) bordering on procurement fraud to the tune of N6.9billion, conferment of advantage.

He was released on Nov. 8 after spending 151 days in custody, following the order of Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the same High Court of the FCTon his enforcement of right.

Justice Muaza adjourned until Nov. 22, to determine the bail application, he also fixed Nov. 28, for the commencement of trial.

The anti-graft agency had in August, first charged Emefiele and one Mrs Sa’adatu Yaro and a company, April 1616 Investment Limited, purported to belong to Mrs Yaro, on alleged breach of the procurement Act in respect of the purchase of some vehicles.

However, the arraignment could not go on because of the reported ill health of Yaro.

However, when the matter was called on Friday, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, drew the attention of the court to an amended charge dated Nov. 8, 2023.

In the new charge Emefiele was the sole defendant and the charge reduced from 20 to six, to which Emefiele pleaded not guilty.

In another development, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT high court, Maitama also adjourned until Dec. 11 to hear the originating motion on Emefiele ‘s application for enforcement of right.

Justice Adeniyi fixed the date after, Emefiele ‘s counsel, J Usman, SAN told the court that they needed to go through the counter affidavits served by the respondents .
Usman earlier, told the court that he just discovered that they have been served with the counter, he apologised to the court and the respondents.