LBy Kamil Opeyemi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday complied with the order of the court to produce former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi had in a ruling on November 2, ordered the anti-graft agency to either release the former CBN Governor who has been in detention since June 9, unconditionally, or produce him in court to be granted bail. Emefiele’s lawyer, Mr. Mathew Burkaa, SAN, had complained to the court that EFCC flouted both orders.
Burkaa, SAN, bemoaned that the agency spurned the directive of the court, even though it was promptly served with the order.
“My lord, they have flouted both orders and today marks the 149th day of the Applicant being in custody.
“The Applicant is still in custody of the 3rd and 4th Respondents, up till this moment that we speak,” he lamented.
On its part, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. Farouk Abdallah, confirmed that it received the court order, insisting that contrary to the claim of the Applicant’s counsel, Emefiele has not been in its custody for over 100 days.
“My lord, I do confirm that we received the order. It is however not correct that the Applicant has been in custody of the b3rd and 4th Respondents for over 100 days. “He has only been in our custody for only 7 days. “We got the processes that were filed before this court and we intend to react to them so as to set the record straight.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to do so because the processes that were received by the 3rd and 4th Respondents were incomplete.
“We are not insinuating that it was deliberate. It may be inadvertent on the part of the counsel for the Applicant.
“Certain exhibits they referred to, particularly exhibit E, were not attached,” the EFCC lawyer added.