Emefiele : EFCC Snubs Court Order

By Garry Ochigbo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday in Abuja refused to produce former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

The release order made on November 2 was said to have been ignored by alleged confusion in the interpretation of the court order.

But Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi who was taken aback by the claim of the EFCC rejected it and restated his order that Emefiele be either released on bail or be produced in Court on Wednesday November 8 for the purpose of admitting him to bail.

At the resumed hearing of his fundermental rights enforcement suit, Emefiele through his counsel, Mathew Burkaa, had complained bitterly that the anti-graft agency did not obey the order issued since November 2.

He drew the attention of Justice Adeniyi to the fact that his client had spent 149 days in the custody of the Federal Government agency since June 10 when he was first arrested by operatives of the Department of the State Service, DSS.

Upon being called for explanations on why the Court order was not obeyed, EFCC’s lawyer, Farouk Abdalla admitted that his client was actually served with the release order.

The Judge said that the order as issued by him was clear with no ambiguity or predicated on any condition for the anti- graft agency to toy with.

At this stage,  EFCC’s lawyerr, Farouk Abdalla apologized for the failure to comply with the order stating that EFCC, as an agency of government established by law, would not take the Court order for granted or treat it with levity.

He repeatedly assured that his client would carry out the order because it has no option than to obey all lawful orders of court.

He consequently gave the anti- graft agency till November 8 for Emefiele to be unfailingly produced in Court for the purpose of admitting him to bail.

Edited By Grace Namiji