Just in: former CBN governor, Emefiele released from Kuje prison

The embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre after meeting his bail conditions.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed that Emefiele was released on Friday from Kuje prison after fulfilling his bail terms.

Emefiele, who is being prosecuted for alleged procurement fraud, was granted N300 million in bail by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

Justice Hamza Muazu granted bail with two sureties in the same amount.

The sureties must have certificates of occupancy and titles to homes in Abuja’s Maitama District, according to the judge.

The presiding judge also ordered Emefiele to submit all of his travel documents to the court’s registrar and to remain within the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

However, the judge ordered that Emefiele remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until he meets the bail requirements.

Justice Muazu had rejected the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s objection to Emefiele’s bail application. The anti-graft agency argued that the ex-CBN governor was a flight risk who could jump bail, jeopardize the investigation, or endanger national security if granted bail.

It is not yet over for Emefiele as the latest revelations may earn him fresh legal trials.

It was recently reported that he illegally lodged billions of naira in about 593 bank accounts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Investigator, Jim Obaze, announced that Emefiele opened the bank accounts without the approval of CBN’s Board of Directors and Investment Committee.

He added that Emefiele deposited 543,482,213 in fixed deposits in UK banks alone without authorisation.

The report partly reads: “The former governor of the CBN invested Nigeria’s money without authorisation in 593 foreign accounts in the United States, China, and the United Kingdom while he was in charge.

“All the accounts where the billions were lodged have all been traced by the investigator, In the UK alone, Emefiele kept £543,482, 213 in fixed deposits without authorization by the CBN board and the Investment Committee of the bank.”