In a ruling on Tuesday, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, denied a request from the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. Justice Hamza Muazu, who presided over the case, dismissed Emefiele’s application for the release of his passport, stating that Emefiele failed to provide sufficient evidence that the medical trip was essential and unavoidable.
Emefiele is currently facing amended charges of procurement fraud, obtaining by false pretense, and forgery during his tenure as the CBN governor. Despite pleading not guilty to these charges, Emefiele’s bail conditions required him to deposit his passport.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Labi-Lawal, filed an affidavit seeking the release of his client’s passport to enable him to travel to the UK for medical treatment. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Muhammad Omeiza, opposed the application, citing Emefiele’s potential flight risk.
Justice Muazu highlighted that Emefiele did not provide a copy of the medical appointment or invitation from the UK, nor did he establish that his ailment could not be treated in Nigeria. The judge also noted that Emefiele is currently standing trial in three different courts in the FCT and Lagos for various charges. Consequently, Justice Muazu dismissed the application and upheld the date set for the trial’s continuation.
