Court grants Emefiele N300m bail in trial on naira notes printing

A federal capital territory high court has granted bail to Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the sum of N300 million.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Emefiele on a four-count charge before MaryAnn Anenih, the presiding judge, on Tuesday.

Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge when it was read to him. 

Moving an application for bail, Mahmud Magaji, counsel to Emefiele, asked the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition and on the same grounds and conditions of bail already granted him by a coordinate court presided over by Hamza Muazu. 

He added that the defendant will always be in court to face trial. 

In her ruling, Anenih granted the former CBN governor bail in the sum of N300 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The court said the sureties must be residents of Nigeria and owners of properties within the Maitama district of Abuja, and that they must possess an affidavit of means.

Emefiele has also been asked to deposit his travel documents before the court. He is not permitted to leave the country without the permission of the court. 

Anenih added that Emefiele should be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned to May 28 and 29 for continuation of trial.

The anti-graft agency is accusing Emefiele of “illegal” printing of naira notes in its fresh charge.

In the charge sheet seen by TheCable, EFCC alleges that Emefiele “disobeyed the direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public” by approving the printing of naira notes without “strict approval” from former President Muhammadu Buhari and the CBN board.

Emefiele is alleged to have approved the printing of N684.5 million notes at the rate of N18.96 billion.