Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, found himself in legal jeopardy once again as he was arraigned on fresh charges before the Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, on Monday.
The charges leveled against him include alleged abuse of office and the misallocation of billions of dollars.
Emefiele, alongside his co-defendant Henry Omoile, pleaded not guilty to all 26 counts brought against them.
However, the trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, ordered that Emefiele be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until the next adjourned date, Thursday, April 11. On the same day, the court will rule on his bail application.
Additionally, Justice Oshodi ordered Omoile’s remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the court’s ruling on his bail application also scheduled for Thursday.
During the proceedings, Emefiele’s legal team argued vehemently for his release on bail, citing his status as a former top banker in Nigeria and his impeccable record of attending court proceedings since his initial arrest.
The counsel said: “For nine years, Emefiele was the number one banker in Nigeria”.
AbdulHakeem Labi-Lawal, Emefiele’s counsel, emphasized his client’s compliance with bail conditions previously granted by Justice Muazu and his consistent presence at trial hearings.
“Emefiele has been granted bail by Justice Muazu and has been attending his trial at the FCT High Court. Since that bail was granted, he has never missed his hearing dates and the prosecution is almost rounding up its case. The defendant has always religiously presented himself in court to answer the allegations against him,” the counsel said.
“Last week Thursday, the EFCC called him to say that two charges have been filed against him and he has presented himself again in court today to answer to one of the fresh charges against him. He is not a flight risk”.
Despite the impassioned plea from Emefiele’s legal team, Justice Oshodi opted to remand him in EFCC custody until the bail application hearing.
