A Federal High Court in Abuja has requested that Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), appear in court on or before January 25 to provide an explanation of the facts underlying the $53 million judgement debt resulting from the Paris Club refund.
Emefiele was given another chance by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday to appear in person in court or have an arrest warrant issued for him.
After hearing a plea from Emefiele and CBN’s attorney, Audu Anuga (SAN), the judge rendered the decision.
JUST IN: Emefiele Arrives Court For Trial
Anuga claimed that since his client was still in detention, all attempts to guarantee that he appeared in person in accordance with the court’s order had failed.
He told the judge that an affidavit providing justification for the arrest warrant should not be issued against Emefiele was filed on October 30.
Judge Ekwo then inquired as to whether the affidavit had been served to I.A. Nnana, the attorney for Mr. Joe Agi, SAN, the judgement creditor/applicant in the case.
Nnana retorted that they would like to answer after being served on Monday, nearly at the end of the workday.
The judge reminded Anuga that the case was heard on July 19 and warned him against filing paperwork after the deadline.
UPDATE: Emefiele Set To Regain Freedom As EFCC Takes Over Case
However, the senior attorney clarified that despite every attempt taken up until Friday, October 27, to guarantee Emefiele’s release per the court’s decision, the order was not followed, which is why the affidavit had to be filed.
Anuga, however, informed the court that the parties should be permitted to investigate settlement possibilities because they had already explored them and the CBN had a new governor.
Emefiele, however, was ordered by Justice Ekwo to show up on the following postponed day.
The judge said, “As for the 4th respondent (Emefiele), I have always said, contempt proceedings follow a person whether the person Is still there or not.
“In this case, I have given this particular person so much liberty, so much leniency and the situation does not seem to change.
JUST IN: Suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele Arrested By DSS
“I will adjourn the matter because the other side says they want to react to the process so there is not much talk.
“Order of court must be complied with and even if no one complies with the order of the court, the court must comply with its order.
“I will give you sufficient time.”
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