The Federal Capital Territory High Court has rejected a request by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele seeking leave to travel abroad for medical reasons.
The embattled former CBN governor had requested access to his international passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom for a follow-up medical check-up.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on March 2024, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, that Emefiele and nine other officials at the apex bank were involved in allegedly approving multi-billion contracts to his wife, Margaret, brother-in-law and staff of the apex bank, Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro.
The EFCC’s legal team equally opposed Emefiele’s application to travel out.
Ruling on the application on Tuesday, Justice Hamza Muazu held that Emefiele failed to supply sufficient materials to show that the medical trip was essential and unavoidable.
Justice Muazu noted that while Emefiele claimed there was an invitation for him to travel to the UK for medical attention, he failed to tender a copy of the said invitation in court.
The judge also said that Emefiele did not show that his ailment could not be attended to in the country.
“As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the applicant travel outside Nigeria. The application fails and is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled.
Justice Muazu also observed that Emefiele is facing criminal charges in three different courts.
