“Emefiele Trial Adjourned Amidst US Criticism: Allegations of Arbitrary Arrests Persist”

A federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned the trial of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to June 24.At yesterday’s proceedings, neither the prosecution counsel nor the defendant was in court, but Emefiele was represented by one of his lawyers.

The trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, demanded to know why the defendant was absent. Emefiele’s counsel, I D Ahmed, apologised for his client’s absence and proceeded to inform the court that they were served an adjournment letter by the prosecution.

But the judge retorted: “Because you have a letter of adjournment from the prosecution does not mean the defendant should not be in court.” Justice Muazu then adjourned until June 24 and June 25 for the continuation of the trial.

The Federal Government had, on January 18, amended the criminal charges filed against the CBN ex-governor. Formerly six counts, they were increased to 20. The amended charges border on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.

MEANWHILE, the United States Government has termed the arrests of Emefiele and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, as arbitrariness by security personnel.

The American nation submitted that lengthy pre-trial detention has remained a problem, denying detainees access to a court and frustrating the country’s judicial system.

The U.S. Department of State disclosed this in its ‘2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria,’ published on its website. It said in the prosecution of corruption cases, law enforcement and intelligence agencies did not religiously follow due process, leading to the arrest of suspects without appropriate apprehension and search warrants.

United States recalled that the Department of State Services (DSS) detained Emefiele “for investigative reasons” on June 10, 2023, after which a Federal High Court in Lagos, on July 25, granted him bail and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are fulfilled.

The report detailed: “However, the DSS immediately attempted to arrest Emefiele again, and a fight reportedly broke out between DSS agents and Nigerian Correctional Service officers as each group tried to take Emefiele into custody.

“Meanwhile, the former CBN governor was released on bail on

November 8, 2023, before he was later charged with corruption.

“Similarly, the DSS continued to detain Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, a government-designated

“Similarly, the DSS continued to detain Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, a government-designated terrorist organisation on national security grounds.

“Kanu was charged on several counts, including treason, terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms. “In 2017, Kanu fled abroad after skipping bail, but was arrested and returned to the country in 2021.”

CR: TheGuardian