Former Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele, has been granted bail after almost five months in detention over allegation of corruption.
Emefiele’s freedom from the anti graft body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is based on a High Court ruling at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“There must be an end to detention without trial,” said Judge Olukayode Adeniyi, sitting in the High Court in the capital on Wednesday. His bail was granted on condition that he surrenders his passport and his lawyers produce him in court on 15 November.
Mr Emefiele was arrested by the feared secret police known as the DSS on 10 June, the day after he was suspended as CBN governor, and has since remained in custody.
Although the Nigerian constitution limits the detention period of a suspect to a maximum of 48 hours, law enforcement agencies are often permitted to extend the detention period with the permission of a court of law. Mr Emefiele, who is facing months-long investigations over corruption allegations, attended Wednesday’s proceedings. He is also being charged with illegally owning a shotgun, all of which he denies.
Confirming the release of the former CBN chief, one of his lawyers, Matthew Burkaa, said Emefiele went home from the court on Wednesday.
