The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Monday rejected the application of an ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele for the release of his passport to permit him to make an overseas medical trip.
In a statement released on Monday, the agency’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale said the defence counsel Labi-Lawal had filed an affidavit soliciting for the release of Emefiele’s passport so his client would be able to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatments. Labi-Lawaal said this was objected to by the EFCC.
The affidavit released on Monday by the defence and the counter-affidavit by the prosecution was in acceleration of the ones made previously on the matter on June 25, 2024, by both teams.
Muhammad Abbas Omeiza, the Prosecution counsel had in furtherance to the counter-affidavit informed the court that there was no medical report before the court revealing that Emefiele was plagued by an ailment and that if there was, there was no evidence to buttress the fact that it could not be treated locally in Nigeria.
Omeiza further noted that Emefiele had deposited his passport with the court as part of the requirements for his bail conditions. He had then argued that releasing it to him would amount to the court varying his bail conditions.
The prosecuting counsel also said that Emefiele was a flight risk, as he has “co-conspirators all over the world. One Anita and Tony are all aides of the defendant who are currently in the UK. The defendant might be tempted to jump bail because he is standing trial in three different courts.”
In reaction to this claim, the defence counsel dismissed the prosecution’s arguments as merely speculation, noting that the prosecution could simply issue an international red alert on the defendant to enable his arrest if he made the overseas medical trip and refused to come back.
In the end, after listening to both counsels, Justice Mu’azu, postponed ruling on the application till July 16, 2024.
