A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday granted the request of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, to travel out of Abuja.
Emefiele got the reprieve after his counsel, Mr Mathew Bukka, submitted an application, asking for a variation of the terms in his bail conditions.
Recall that on November 22, 2023, Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.
He added that the sureties must have landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT.
The court further ordered that his travel documents be returned to the court, adding that Emefiele must remain within the FCT jurisdiction and get court permission before any travel.
At Thursday’s hearing, Bukka urged the court to grant the prayers of his client, assuring the court that Emefiele would not jump bail if the restriction was lifted.
He added that the defendant’s traveling documents were already with the court, adding that given the status of the defendant, he won’t jump bail.
The judge, in its ruling, permitted Emefiele to leave the FCT but ruled that he must remain within the borders of the country.
“The defendant’s application is hereby granted. He must remain in the country for the pendency of his trial,” he said.
