In Abuja’s Federal High Court, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been granted an extension until January 25 to personally appear in court and clarify the circumstances surrounding the $53 million judgment debt stemming from the Paris Club refund.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a brief ruling on Tuesday, has given Emefiele one more opportunity to make a personal court appearance or else an arrest warrant may be issued against him.
This decision came after a request from Emefiele and the CBN’s legal representative, Audu Anuga, SAN, who explained that all attempts to secure his client’s in-person appearance on the court’s order had been unsuccessful, as he was still in custody.
Anuga informed the court that an affidavit explaining why an arrest warrant should not be issued against Emefiele was submitted on October 30.
Justice Ekwo then inquired of I.A. Nnana, the attorney representing Mr. Joe Agi, SAN, the judgment creditor/applicant in the case, if they had been served with the affidavit.
Nnana replied that they were served with it on Monday, nearly at the end of the workday, and requested time to respond.
The judge, while cautioning Anuga about the late filing of documents, reminded him that the matter was initially scheduled for July 19.
The senior lawyer explained that they had done everything possible to secure Emefiele’s release in accordance with the court order, but the order had not been complied with by Friday, October 27, prompting them to file the affidavit.
Anuga, however, proposed that since both parties had been exploring a settlement previously and there was a new CBN governor, they should be allowed to explore the settlement option.
However, Justice Ekwo insisted that Emefiele must appear during the next scheduled hearing.
“As for the 4th respondent (Emefiele), I have always said, that contempt proceedings follow a person whether the person Is still there or not.
“In this case, I have given this particular person so much liberty, so much leniency and the situation does not seem to change.
“I will adjourn the matter because the other side says they want to react to the process so there is not much talk.
“Order of court must be complied with and even if no one complies with the order of the court, the court must comply with its order.
“I will give you sufficient time,” he said.
The judge, consequently, adjourned the matter until Jan. 25 for Emefiele to show cause why an arrest warrant should not be issued against him.
