Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has given approval for the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to travel.
However, Emefiele is required to travel “only” within the country. The court modified his bail terms, limiting him to the FCT.
Emefiele’s lawyer requested this change, and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) did not oppose, only asking for an undertaking that he would remain in Nigeria if permitted to travel.
The charges against Emefiele have also been updated from 6 to 20, now including offenses such as criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud, and conspiracy to commit felony.
Previously, Emefiele was granted bail on December 24, 2023, with a sum of N300 million and two sureties of the same amount. He had been accused of procurement fraud related to awarding a contract for 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion.
Despite being released from the Kuje Correctional Centre after meeting bail conditions, he remains under certain restrictions, including depositing his travel documents with the court registrar and staying within the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
This legal journey began in June when Emefiele was initially taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his suspension as the CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu. The arrest led to a legal challenge, with Emefiele approaching the FCT High Court, which subsequently issued an ultimatum to the DSS to either charge him or release him.