The House of Representatives, yesterday, moved to investigate an alleged attempt against a court order by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in its bid to remove Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The House resolution followed the adoption of a petition on the matter from a Civil Society Organisations Society (CSO), Centre for Social Justice Equity and Transparency, (CESJET).
In the petition, dated Nov. 27, 2023, and addressed to the House deputy spokesman, Philip Agbese, the CSO said the actions of the security agencies were a direct affront to the rule of law and amounted to disregarding the order of a competent court of law. It lamented that the embattled former CBN governor was facing persecution and not prosecution.
The CSO, therefore, urged the lawmakers to intervene and stop the agencies of the state from abusing the Court process and persecuting Emefiele.
The petition, titled: ‘Is the EFCC Pursuing Prosecution or Persecution?’ signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Joshua Abah, reads in part, “It has become expedient to bring to your attention, the flagrant violation and breach of the Order of Court by the EFCC regarding the prosecution of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Godwin Emefiele,
“A High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja had on Friday 24th November, 2023, granted bail to Godwin Emefiele in the sum of 300 million naira and two sureties in like sum, who must own properties in the Maitama District of the FCT. The Court also ruled that Mr Godwin Emefiele be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
“Godwin Emefiele had earlier been arraigned on a 20-count charge, which was later reduced to a 6-count charge. This came after a series of unsubstantiated charges by several Agencies of the State, ranging from sponsoring terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and now 20-count charges on corruption.
“After the ruling granting him bail was made, the Counsel to Emefiele told the Court that State-owned Security Agencies (especially the EFCC and the DSS have been taking turns and going on rounds in arresting and re-arresting Emefiele on no grounds.
Accordingly, the EFCC Counsel pledged, on behalf of the Commission, that the former CBN Boss will not be re-arrested again on the charges before the Court.
The CESJET stated that: “These actions of the Security Agencies are a direct affront to the rule of law and amount to disregarding the Order of a competent Court of Law.
“Rather than diligently prosecute the case against Emefiele, the EFCC and its counterpart, the DSS, are busy abusing the Court process and persecuting a citizen, who has a right to be presumed innocent until his guilt is proved before a competent Court of Law.
“These agencies of Government should refrain from all such untoward practices. If there are new offences, they can file new charges and not keep haunting him perpetually and making frantic efforts to abduct him from Prison Custody. This action undermines the rule of law and makes a mockery of our judicial system.
“Bail is a temporary freedom and not a permanent freedom. This conduct of the Agencies of the State are all working to undermine the Renewed Hope Agenda and efforts of Mr. President, our Leader, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, CESJET stated.
Meanwhile, the FCT High Court has adjourned till January 18, 2024, for the continuation of the trial in the alleged procurement fraud suit against the former CBN governor.
It was gathered that Emefiele has yet to meet his bail conditions, as he was brought to court and taken away by armed personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
