The former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has been granted permission to travel out of Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The court however, insisted that the new permission did not allow the Emefiele to travel out of Nigeria.
Recall that the embatteld former CBN governor through his lawyer, Mathew Bukka, SAN requested for a variation of the terms in his bail conditions.
Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court on November 22, 2023 granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300m with two sureties in like sum.
The court ordered the former CBN governor to summit his passport and other travel documents before the registrar of the court.
At the proceedings on today, Emefiele’s lawyer urged the court to grant the prayers of his client.
Bukka assured the court that Emefiele would not jump bail if the restriction was lifted.
The counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, said, “From experience, we have seen cases where travel documents are with the court and the defendant will travel out of the country. What they usually do is to go to the immigration and depose an affidavit that their traveling documents are missing.
“So, in addition to his traveling documents being with the court, he should write an undertaking that the defendant will remain in Nigeria for the duration of his trial. I am not in any way suggesting the defendant will jump bail.”
Ruling, the judge held that, “The defendant’s application is hereby granted. He must remain in the country for the pendency of his trial.”