The Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the unconditional and immediate release of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Justice O.A. Adeniyi made the order following an ex-parte motion filed by Emefiele.

In the motion, the ex-CBN governor was seeking his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.

After hearing the motion, the judge ordered Emefiele’s release.

Emefiele named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and the EFCC itself as the respondents.

The court ordered the 3rd and 4th respondents (the Executive Chairman and the EFCC) to unconditionally release Emefiele from detention forthwith. Alternatively, they are directed to produce him in court on the date fixed for the hearing of the substantive motion on notice, with the possibility of being admitted to bail by the court.

The court set the date for the hearing of the substantive motion on notice for Monday, November 6, 2023.

The post Just In: Court Orders Unconditional Release Of Ex-CBN Gov Emefiele appeared first on Jomog.

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, is currently being detained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The PUNCH can confirm that Emefiele, who is currently being interrogated at the National Headquarters of the anti-graft agency, Jabi, Abuja, was picked up by EFCC operatives Thursday night, less than an hour after he regained his freedom from the dungeon of the Department of State Services.

An impeccable source revealed the development Friday morning, noting that the EFCC is probing Emefiele over alleged impropriety during his term as the head of the apex bank.

“Yes, Emefiele is currently in our (EFCC) custody; he was arrested last night less than an hour after the DSS freed him. He’s currently being interrogated at the Headquarters, as he’s being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds amongst other things during his term as CBN governor,” the source noted.

Our correspondent further gathered that fresh charges may be filed against Mr Emefiele by the EFCC.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for official confirmation when contacted by our correspondent on Friday.

The PUNCH reports that Emefiele had been in the custody of the Department of State Services since June after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office.

He was thereafter asked to transfer his responsibilities to Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, then deputy governor, operations directorate at the apex bank.

A day after, the DSS announced that Emefiele was in its custody for ‘some investigative reasons’.

On July 25, he was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on “illegal possession” of firearms at a federal high court in Lagos and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million.

The two-count charge was later struck out on August 17 after the Federal Government withdrew the same.

However, a fresh 20-count charge was instituted against him over an alleged conspiracy to carry out procurement fraud, among others.

The arraignment has been stalled twice, and Emefiele was reported to have proposed a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Government.

The proposed agreement required Emefiele to resign as CBN governor and ‘disgorge’ some assets.

However, on September 22, the CBN officially confirmed Emefiele’s resignation after Olayemi Cardoso was appointed as substantive governor of the apex bank.

The post Just In: EFCC Detains Emefiele After DSS Frees Ex-CBN Gov appeared first on Jomog.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday issued a production warrant for singer/rapper Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley.

The warrant, issued by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, ordered that Naira Marley be produced in court to resume his trial for alleged cybercrime-related offences.

The Nation reports that the controversial “Am I a Yahoo boy” and “Soapy” singer arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday following a police invitation.

The invitation was in connection with the death of his estranged one-time label signee, Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

The next day, a Sabo, Yaba, Chief Magistrate’s Court granted the police an order to detain him in their custody for 21 days.

But the detention meant he could not honour his court date for the resumption of his already four-year prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged economic crime.

When the case resumed yesterday before Justice Oweibo, the defendant was absent.

The singer’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the judge that Naira Marley was in police custody in connection with Mohbad’s death.

He prayed the court to issue a production warrant for the defendant so that he could be produced in court on the next adjourned day.

EFCC counsel Bilikisu Buhari confirmed the state of affairs, adding that efforts were underway to ensure his attendance on the next date.She did not oppose Ojo’s application.

Consequently, Justice Oweibo issued the warrant and adjourned till October 30, 2023, for continuation of trial.

According to the EFCC, Naira Marley committed the offences on different dates between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.

In the charge it filed before the court, the agency alleged that Naira Marley and one Raze (still at large), on or about December 11, 2018, conspired to use an Access card 42658840359191132 issued to persons other than him in furtherance of internet scams.

It was also alleged that Naira Marley and Raze on or about May 10, 2019, with intent to defraud, possessed a counterfeit card 4921819410257431 issued to one Timea Fedorne Tatar and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(9) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act

He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The post Court Issues Production Warrant For Naira Marley Over Alleged Cybercrime appeared first on Jomog.