12th April, 2024
By Akin Kuponiyi
The Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos, Friday granted bail to the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in the sum of N50m with two sureties with landed property in Lagos.
The presiding Judge Rahman Oshodi, also granted accelerated trial in the case, directing that seven out of all prosecution witnesses should give evidence in camera, for protection and security of their lives.
After the ruling, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s, lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN told the court that seven of the prosecution witnesses’ lives were in danger and urged for trial in camera.
Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma Omoile, in the fresh 26-count charge of $4.5 billion and £2.8 preferred against them also got bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
The fresh charges against them included abuse of office and irregular allocation of cumulative $4.5 billion and £2.8 billion while Emefiele was in office as CBN governor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented 26 charges of fraud and corruption against the defendants to which they pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC’s lawyer had applied for accelerated trial in the case, adding that the case be heard in camera to protect identity of witnesses 1 to 7, citing Section 373 of criminal act of Lagos State.
Leading lawyer to the defendants, Mr Abduakeem Labi-Lawal, denied knowledge of threat allegation, saying similar trial had been going on in Abuja, and that nobody’s life was threatened.