The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday opposed an application by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for the release of his passport to facilitate an overseas medical trip.
Labi-Lawal, Emefiele’s defence counsel, filed an affidavit requesting the release of his passport so that he may fly to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, which the EFCC opposed.
Monday’s affidavit by the defence and counter-affidavit by the prosecution were in addition to those filed earlier on the topic on June 25, 2024, by both teams.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the prosecution counsel, Muhammad Omeiza, stated in response to the counter-affidavit that there was no medical evidence before the court indicating that Emefiele was suffering from an illness.
He also stated that if there was, there was no evidence to suggest that it could not be handled locally in Nigeria.
“Omeiza further noted that Emefiele deposited his passport with the court as part of the fulfilment of his bail conditions, arguing that releasing it to him would amount to the court varying his bail conditions,“ the statement added.
Oyewale stated that the EFCC’s lawyer also argued that Emefiele was a flight risk.
“The defendant has co-conspirators all over the world. Anita and Tony are all aides to the defendant and are currently in the UK. The defendant might be tempted to jump bail because he is standing trial in three different courts,” Oyewale quoted Omeiza as saying.
In response, Oyewale stated that the defence counsel disputed the prosecution’s arguments as speculative, saying that if the defendant went overseas for medical treatment and refused to return, the prosecution might issue an international red alert to facilitate his arrest.
He stated that after listening to both counsels, the trial judge, Justice Hamza Mu’azu, deferred the verdict on the application to July 16, 2024.
The former CBN governor is on trial in three separate trials before different judges.
Along with Justice Mu’azu, he is being tried for procurement fraud, forgery of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature, and other allegations.
Emefiele is accused of a $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
