EFCC Arraigns Emefiele Over 753 Abuja Housing Units
…As Court Grants N2bn Bail
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, over the alleged illegal acquisition of a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja.
Emefiele was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and fraudulent property acquisition.
According to the EFCC, Emefiele, in collaboration with a co-conspirator identified as Eric Ocheme, who remains at large, fraudulently acquired the estate located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District.
The property, which spans over 150,000 square metres, was allegedly purchased using proxy accounts in breach of public trust.
The commission said the estate had previously been recovered from a former top government official and was subject to a forfeiture order secured from the FCT High Court in Apo.
When the charges were read for him, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following Emefiele’s plea, Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa, filed for bail on behalf of his client.
Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose the bail but asked the court to add stricter conditions.
Justice Halilu granted the former CBN governor bail in the sum of N2bn, with two sureties in like sum.
He noted that Emefiele had previously been granted bail in three other criminal cases and had not breached any of those terms.
The court ordered that the sureties must each own properties in Asokoro, Maitama, or Wuse 2, which are within the court’s jurisdiction.
The judge also ordered Emefiele to surrender his travel documents to the court and directed that the bail conditions must be fully met by Wednesday, or he will be remanded in custody.
EFCC Arraigns Emefiele Over 753 Abuja Housing Units is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
