Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, declined the request of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to travel to the United Kingdom for a follow-up medical checkup.
The judge also ruled that Emefiele’s failure to present a copy of the invitation for the medical attention trip to the UK weakened his claim.
While the judge noted that Emefiele is facing charges in several other courts, he also held that Emefiele did not show that his ailment could not be attended to in the country.
Upon reviewing the case, Justice Muazu ruled that the defendant did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the essential and unavoidable nature of his medical trip and, therefore, dismissed the defendant’s prayer that his passport be released to seek medical care abroad.
The former Central Bank governor is standing trial before the judge on amended 20 counts bordering on procurement fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and forgery.