Monday, June 16, 2025 - Justice Yusuf Halilu of a FCT High Court FCT on Monday admitted a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele to bail in the sum of N2 billion in a fresh charge of property fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed an
eight-count charge against him in respect of the disputed 753 duplexes in
Abuja.
The said property located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09,
Lokogoma District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, measures 150,462.86
SQM and comprises 753 housing units.
When the charge was read to him, he however, pleaded not
guilty.
Following his plea, his counsel, Mathew Burkaa, SAN, applied
for bail which was not opposed to by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,
SAN.
Oyedepo however, asked the court to expunge some paragraphs
in the bail application , and the court granted that.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Halilu held that
bail is a constitutional right.
He added that the defendant (Emefiele) has been granted bail
by two other judges and he did not go against the conditions and terms.
“I admit the defendant to bail on the terms and conditions
that the defendant’s travel documents which is already before justice Muazu is
hereby attached as part of the condition.
“The defendant shall provide two sureties who must be
residents of Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court.
“The sureties must own landed property within the
jurisdiction of this court precisely in Asokoro, Maitama and Wuse 2 which
valued at N2 billion,” he held.
Halilu further ordered that the sureties shall also do
undertaking to produce the defendant in court always all through his trial .
He added in the event the defendant jumps bail, they
(sureties) will be put in prison.
He ordered that the defendant is granted from now to Wed
(June 18) to vacate the ball or else risk going to prison.
He then adjourned until July 11 for continuation.
The charge, numbered CR/358/2025, borders on alleged having
control of property reasonably suspected to be unlawfully obtained.
The offence, the EFCC said, is punishable under Section 319
of the Penal Code Law.
Emefiele was charged alongside one “Ocheme” who is at large.
Besides the housing estate, the two defendants are also
charged with unlawfully keeping in their possession billions of naira in proxy
accounts in Zenith Bank.
In count one of the charge Emefiele and Ocheme were accused
of knowingly having within their control the housing estate suspected to be
unlawfully obtained, contrary to the law.
In another count they were also alleged to have in their
control another sum of N2.9 billion domiciled in Kelvito Integrated Services’
account No: 1016232915 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc.
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