Lagos Court Orders Detainment of Ex-CBN Governor, Gives New Date For His Trial

The Ikeja High Court in Lagos has issued an order for the remand of Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This directive will keep Emefiele under EFCC supervision until Thursday, April 11, when the court is scheduled to decide on his bail application.

The court’s decision came after hearing the bail requests presented by AbdulHakeem Labi-Lawal, the counsel representing Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile. Justice Rahman Oshodi also mandated that Omoile be held at the Ikoyi Prison until a ruling on his bail is made on the same date.

The legal representation for Emefiele has appealed to the court for his release on bail, either based on his own recognizance or under the most lenient conditions possible, pending the ongoing case’s resolution. Similarly, they requested that Omoile be granted bail on equally generous terms.

Rotimi Oyedepo, representing the EFCC and holding the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, responded to the bail applications without objection. He encouraged the court to use its judgement in deciding on the bail conditions.