A Nigerian court rejected a request by Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of Nigeria’s central bank, to travel abroad for medical treatment, according to Reuters. Emefiele, who is currently facing fraud charges, had asked the court to release his passport to allow him to travel to the United Kingdom for treatment of an undisclosed ailment.
Reuters reports that Judge Hamza Muazu dismissed Emefiele’s application, stating, “It is an exercise of the court’s discretion to allow the defendant to go on a medical trip… but as it is, I fail to see any letter of medication in the defendant’s application.” The judge added that he could not exercise his discretion to allow Emefiele to leave the country, especially considering that the former central banker is also standing trial in three other courts.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed Emefiele’s request, with prosecutor Muhammad Omeiza arguing that Emefiele posed a flight risk. Reuters notes that the EFCC has filed additional charges against Emefiele, including allegations of misuse of authority, abuse of office, and corruption during his tenure as central bank head.
Emefiele was suspended from his position as central bank governor by President Bola Tinubu approximately a year ago and was immediately arrested. He subsequently resigned from his post in August. The charges against him include illegally printing new banknotes and withdrawing billions of naira without presidential approval.
Emefiele is currently the highest-profile official to face corruption charges under the Tinubu administration.
