High Court orders immediate release of Emefiele from EFCC custody
Joseph Irikefe
The High Court of Justice in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued a landmark court order that directs the immediate and unconditional release of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The order came after Emefiele filed a motion ex-parte, seeking his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
The court order was issued by His Lordship, Hon. Justice O.A. Adeniyi, at Court 8 in Maitama, Abuja, Thursday, in Suit No.: FCT/HC/CV/040/2023, Motion No.: M/122/2023.
The applicants named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF) the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and the EFCC itself as the respondents.
The court order includes the following key provisions: Immediate and Unconditional Release: The court ordered the 3rd and 4th Respondents (the Executive Chairman and the EFCC) to unconditionally release Godwin Emefiele from detention forthwith. Alternatively, they are directed to produce him in court on the date fixed for the hearing of the substantive Motion on Notice, with the possibility of being admitted to bail by the Court.
Hearing of the substantive motion, the court set the date for the hearing of the substantive motion on notice for Monday, 6th November 2023, at 1 pm.
The court order marks a significant development in Emefiele’s legal situation.