Lawyer fumes as EFCC fails to free Emefiele
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, failed to produce in court former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emeifele, as directed by the court.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja had on Thursday ordered the commission to either release Emefiele unconditionally or produce him in court on Monday for the hearing of a motion on his bail.
At the court proceedings on Monday, the former CBN governor was absent.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Burkaa, accused the EFCC of disobeying the court order.
He said, “They have flouted both orders as today marks the 149th day of the applicant being in custody.
“The applicant is still in the custody of the 3rd and 4th respondents, up till this moment that we speak.”
But in his response, the EFCC’s counsel, Mr Farouk Abdullahi, said although the order was served on the commission, not obeying was not a deliberate act.
According to him, certain exhibits referred to by the applicant, particularly Exhibit E, were not attached to the order.
The presiding judge, Justice Olusegun Adeniyi, adjourned the matter till November 8, restating his order that the EFCC should either release Emefiele unconditionally or in the alternative, produce him in court on the next adjourned date to be admitted to bail.
