The prolonged Emefiele saga with the Federal Government seems to be going on forever, like a never-ending circus act. But it’s time to bring the curtains down and obey the court’s orders. After all, Nigeria is a nation of laws, even if some of its alleged security agencies don’t seem to remember that.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has finally decided to follow the court’s orders and brought the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, before the judge for a bail hearing. It’s about time.
Emefiele, who has been stuck in the clutches of security agencies for a whopping 149 days, was told by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to be set free without conditions or at least be given a chance to plead his case for bail.
In a rather colorful choice of attire – a yellow Kaftan and a cap – and surrounded by EFCC agents, Emefiele made his grand entrance at the courtroom around 12:30 pm. The judge had reaffirmed his order just the previous Monday, making it clear that Emefiele should make a court.
appearance on November 8 for a bail decision. Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Burkaa, promptly applied for bail on what he called “liberal terms,” arguing that his client had endured 151 days in custody, invoking the mighty Section 35 (4a and b) of the 1999 constitution for support.
However, the Attorney General of the Federation’s lawyer, Onyi Koleosho, had a different tune to sing. She objected, pointing out that Emefiele was handed over to the EFCC a mere two weeks ago on October 26. It seems that time is quite the chameleon in the legal world.
The EFCC’s counsel, Farouk Abdallah, took a more diplomatic stance, agreeing that bail was the court’s call to make. However, he urged the court to consider all the facts, hoping that justice would prevail in the end.
Emefiele’s lawyer reminded the court that his client hadn’t even been served with any charges yet and assured everyone that Emefiele wasn’t planning any world tours to escape justice. After all, his trial by the Federal Government is scheduled for next week.
In a surprising twist, Emefiele was given the mic, so to speak, to address the court. He boldly stated that he still hadn’t been charged with anything, leaving us all to wonder why he had been in custody for so long.
The EFCC’s counsel, however, seemed baffled by this claim, as they believed Emefiele was already set to enter a plea in another court. So, here we are, waiting for the final word from the court, in a case that’s been anything but straightforward.
