In a recent court proceeding, the Federal Capital Territory High Court has approved the request of Godwin Emefiele, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, to travel outside of Abuja. The request for variation of the terms in his bail conditions was made through his lawyer, Mathew Bukka, SAN.
Back on November 22, 2023, Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court had granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300 million, requiring two sureties in like sum with landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT. The judge had also instructed the former CBN governor not to leave the court’s jurisdiction and to deposit all his travel documents with the court.

During the recent proceedings, Bukka urged the court to grant his client’s request, assuring that Emefiele would not violate bail conditions if the travel restriction was lifted. He emphasized that the defendant’s travel documents were already in the court’s possession, and given Emefiele’s status, there was no intention to evade trial.
Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), did not object to the request. However, he suggested an additional precautionary measure, stating, “he should write an undertaking that the defendant will remain in Nigeria for the duration of his trial.”
In delivering the ruling, the judge granted Emefiele’s application, allowing him to travel. However, the judge emphasized that the former CBN governor must remain in the country throughout the duration of his trial. This decision comes as a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding Emefiele’s case.