Justice Adegbola Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The order came after Emefiele filed a Motion Ex-parte, requesting his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion.
Alternatively, the EFCC has been instructed to present Emefiele in court on November 6, 2023, which is the scheduled date for the hearing of the substantive Motion on Notice. There is a possibility that the court may consider granting him bail.
The respondents in this case include the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and the EFCC itself.
Emefiele had filed an ex-parte motion seeking his release from EFCC custody pending the resolution of his fundamental rights enforcement suit.
He also requested the option of bail.
Emefiele was suspended from his role as the head of the CBN by President Bola Tinubu on June 9.