The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has denied former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele’s request to travel abroad for medical treatment. Justice Hamza Muazu dismissed the request, citing insufficient justification provided by Emefiele for the travel.
Emefiele, currently on trial for alleged corruption and mismanagement of public office, sought the court’s permission to retrieve his international passport to travel to the United Kingdom for medical check-ups. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the request.
In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Muazu acknowledged that Emefiele is presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, he noted that Emefiele did not present any documentation from the UK hospital verifying his medical condition.
“As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the applicant to travel outside Nigeria,” stated Justice Muazu.
“The application fails and is hereby dismissed.”
Emefiele was arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Muazu over the alleged illegal awarding of contracts. The commission claims Emefiele approved multi-billion naira contracts to his wife, Margaret, his brother-in-law, and a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro.
Emefiele has denied the allegations and had applied to the court for permission to travel to the UK from July 28, with a planned return on September 10, 2024. However, his request has now been rejected.
The former CBN governor is also facing criminal proceedings in two other trial courts in Lagos and Abuja.
