Omoyele Sowore, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 presidential election, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of deliberately not charging the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for any serious offense. Sowore made this statement after Emefiele was granted bail by a Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court granted Emefiele bail on Wednesday and ordered that he should be immediately released to his lawyers. Justice Adeniyi, however, charged Emefiele’s lawyers with the responsibility of producing him in court for his arraignment next week or any other day. He also ordered Emefiele to deposit his passport and travel documents before the chief registrar of the court, pending his arraignment. Justice Adeniyi further pointed out that Emefiele should not be detained in perpetuity without trial.
Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on June 9 and subsequently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). Emefiele was first charged with illegal possession of firearms and sponsoring terrorism by the DSS. In late October, SaharaReporters reported that Emefiele briefly regained his freedom after he was released by the DSS but was immediately picked up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to a top security source, “Emefiele regained his freedom last night but he was immediately picked up by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.” It was learned that the Presidency directed the EFCC to take over the case. SaharaReporters had reported that Emefiele was suspended “sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.”
Omoyele Sowore has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of deliberately not charging Godwin Emefiele for any serious offense. Emefiele was granted bail by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, and Justice Adeniyi ordered that he should be immediately released to his lawyers. Emefiele was first charged with illegal possession of firearms and sponsoring terrorism by the DSS, and he was later picked up by the EFCC.