BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
THE embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was ordered remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), would spend an additional one day in confinement, courtesy of the extra day of public holidays announced by the Federal Government to mark the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.
Recall that an Ikeja Special Offences Court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi, on Monday, April 8 alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of $4.5billion and N2.8billion, pending the determination of his bail applications on April 11.
Emefiele, along with one Henry Omoile, was arraigned by the EFCC on a 23-count charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt advantage, while his co-defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on acceptance of gift by agents.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Similarly, cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, who was convicted over over naira abuse.and was to be sentenced on Tuesday, April 9, will spend two extra days in detention due to the Sallah holiday
Okuneye was dragged to the Federal High Court in Lagos by the EFCC for spraying the Naira notes at different social events in Lagos over time.
He was convicted on Friday, April 5 by Justice Abimbola Awogboro, following his guilty plea to a criminal charge brought against him by the Commission and the court had reserved sentence until April 9 and ordered his remand in the Commission’s custody pending the sentence.
But the case could no longer proceed, following the declaration of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays by the Federal Government to mark Sallah.
Both cases would have to be relisted and the courts would communicate new dates to the parties involved, which could be next week.
