Recent reports indicate that Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has been remanded by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court over allegations of abuse of office. Oshodi remanded Emefiele in the EFCC custody, while his co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, was remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending the determination of their bail application on April 11.
The defendants' counsel, Mr A. Labi-Lawal, presented two bail applications, urging the court to grant bail to the defendants on self-recognition and on liberal terms pending the determination of the case. Labi-Lawal argued in 31 affidavits that the charges were bailable offenses and not capital offenses. He highlighted Emefiele's compliance with bail conditions set by Justice Muazu in a separate fraud trial in Abuja.
Emefiele and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property receipt. Although the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail application, he urged the court to exercise discretion judiciously in granting bail to the defendants. Following the defendants' plea, the prosecution requested a trial date.
