* Co-defendant Omoile sent to Ikoyi Prison
A Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division,has ordered the remand of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Emefiele is to be remanded till the next adjourned date -Thursday, April 11, when the court will give its ruling on his bail application.
Justice Rahman Oshodi also ordered the remand of Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, at the Ikoyi Prison pending the court’s ruling on his bail on Thursday.
The court ordered the remand of both men after listening to the bail applications filed by their counsel AbdulHakeem Labi-Lawal.
In asking for Emefiele’s bail, the counsel has told the court to grant Emefiele bail on self recognizance pending the hearing and determination of the case or on the most liberal bail terms. The counsel also asked the court to grant the second defendant bail on the most liberal terms.
The EFCC counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo in his response, did not oppose the request for bail. He asked the court to exercise its discretion in the grant of bail.
Arraigned on Monday in court, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to charges against him.
He was arraigned over alleged abuse of office and allocation of billions of dollars.
The 26-count charge was read to Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.
But both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The defendants asked for bail pending the hearing and determination of the proceedings.
Godwin Emefiele is specifically asked the court to grant him bail on self-recognizance pending the hearing and determination of his case or in the alternative that he be released to his counsel pending the determination of the case.
His counsel, Lebi Lawal argued that the court should consider his status.
The counsel says “For nine years, Emefiele was the number one banker in Nigeria”.
The counsel also asked the court to consider Emefiele’s conduct since his arrest.
“Emefiele has been granted bail by Justice Muazu and has been attending his trial at the FCT High Court. Since that bail was granted, he has never missed his hearing dates and the prosecution is almost rounding up its case. The defendant has always religiously presented himself in court to answer the allegations against him,” the counsel said.
“Last week Thursday, the EFCC called him to say that two charges have been filed against him and he has presented himself again in court today to answer to the charge against him. He is not a flight risk”.
The counsel also says that this charge in Lagos is just one of the charges and Emefiele is likely to be arraigned on another set of fresh counts in Abuja next week