The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, undertook a significant solidarity visit to the Kuje Prison in Abuja, extending his support to the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Accompanied by his wife, Temitope, the Yoruba traditional ruler aimed to secure the release of five prison inmates during his visit to the Kuje Correctional Center.
The revered monarch earnestly pleaded for the release of Godwin Emefiele, who is facing a six-count charge related to procurement fraud, as alleged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
BREAKING! Emefiele Granted Bail for N300m
Emefiele is accused of conferring a corrupt advantage on a CBN staff, Sa’adatu Yaro, by awarding a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
The Ooni of Ife visited Emefiele twice on the same day, initially touring the correctional center in the morning with his entourage. He later returned for a second meeting, engaging in lengthy discussions with the former CBN governor.
Despite the details of their conversations not being disclosed publicly, reports suggest that the Ooni was actively involved in advocating for Emefiele’s release.
Prior to this development, Emefiele had spent over four months in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) before being rearrested by the EFCC.
Emefiele Trial Adjourned till Jan. 2024
The former CBN governor faced challenges meeting his N300 million bail conditions after pleading not guilty to the amended charges against him.
Emefiele was granted bail with stringent conditions, including a sum of N300 million and two sureties with certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama district in Abuja. Additionally, he was required to deposit all his travel documents with the Court Registrar and warned to remain within the Abuja Municipal Council.
With the inability to meet the bail conditions, Godwin Emefiele will remain in the Kuje Correctional Facility until 2024.