The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Tuesday, paid a visit to the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele in Kuje prison, Abuja.
The monarch joined the list of influential Nigerians seeking the release of the former apex bank chief, who has been behind bars for months, despite several court rulings ordering his release.
The Ooni was at the prison twice to visit Emefiele, Politics Nigeria gathered. The monarch reportedly had very lengthy meetings with the embattled former Apex bank Chief.
He was in the prison for his outreach programs with inmates aimed at helping them integrate back into the society upon their release and also to offer them support and assistance as part of humanitarian works.
He also used the occasion to meet with the former CBN Governor to sympathise with his ordeals. Following his discussion with him, the monarch called for the release of Emefiele, who is behind bars for his inability to meet his N300 million bail condition.
Recall that Emefiele was last month arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on procurement fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was accused of using his position to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Yaro, a staff of CBN, by awarding a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
Prior to his arrest and arraignment by the EFCC, Emefiele had been in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) for over four months. However, when the DSS released him, he got rearrested by the EFCC.
Emefiele had pleaded not guilty to the amended charges and was later granted bail in the sum of N300 million as well as two sureties in like sum, both of which must have certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama district in Abuja.
He was also mandated to deposit all his travel documents with the Registrar of the Court with a warning to remain within the Abuja Municipal Council.
The former CBN governor was unable to meet the bail conditions and is remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility until 2024.
