June 16, (THEWILL) – A Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Monday, granted bail to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Halilu Yusuf granted the bail after Emefiele pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency had accused the former apex bank Chief of allegedly stealing and unlawfully acquiring 753 housing units located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
In the eight counts, the Commission accused Emefiele of also holding possession of billions of naira in proxy accounts while serving as CBN governor. It stated that Emefiele allegedly conspired with Eric Ocheme, who is reportedly on the run, to acquire the properties in August 2021.
It alleged that between January and December 2019, Emefiele had N167 million in a proxy account with Zenith Bank in Abuja. Prosecutors said the sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
The EFCC further alleged that between January and December 2020, Emefiele and his co-defendant, Ocheme, held N1.23 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No. 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank, stating that the sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
One of the charges read: “That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE and ERIC OCHEME (AT LARGE) between January and December 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly had under control the total sum of N2, 945,331,050 (Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Fifty Naira.) domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”
In count five of the charges, EFCC said between January and December 2022, Emefiele and Ocheme knowingly had under control the total sum of N1.98 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’ account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
The Commission also stated that the former CBN Governor allegedly had N900 million in Ifedigo Integrated Services’ account No. 1210750237, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.
The EFCC further alleged that Emefiele kept N600 million in an account, No. 1210750237, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, at Ifedigo Integrated Services. “The sum is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained”, the commission argued.
The anti-graft agency had earlier obtained a court order to seize the entire estate and handed it over to the federal government last week.
However, Emefiele approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, praying that it set aside the judgement granting the government full control of the estate in Abuja, comprising 753 housing units.
Ruling on Monday on a bail application moved by his lawyer, Matthew Burkaa, which was not objected to by prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, Justice Yusuf noted that Emefiele had been granted bail in three other criminal cases pending against him and that there was no evidence that he had jumped bail. He then proceeded to admit him to bail on the condition that he must produce two sureties, who must own property worth N2 billion in either Asokoro, Maitama or Wuse 2, within the jurisdiction of the court.
Justice Yusuf ordered Emefiele to submit his travel documents to the court and directed that he must perfect the bail by Wednesday.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to July 11 for the commencement of the trial.
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