A Federal Capital Territory High Court has permitted the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to travel outside of Abuja, the country’s capital.

The ruling came after Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Bukka, submitted an application, asking a variation in his bail terms.

In November 2023, Justice Hamza Muazu of the high court granted the former CBN governor bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in like sum and ordered him to deposit his travel documents.

The court further ordered that the travel documents be returned to the court, adding that Emefiele must remain within the FCT jurisdiction and get court permission before any travel.

However, the court on Thursday permitted Emefiele to leave the country’s capital but ruled that he must remain within the borders of the country.

Emefiele, who served as CBN governor from 2014 to 2023, has been in legal trouble since June 2023, when he was held by the State Security Service on suspicion of possessing a handgun and live ammunition.

While the allegations were ultimately withdrawn, the Attorney-General of the Federation filed new corruption charges against him in August, claiming he collaborated with a CBN employee to award bogus contracts totaling N6.9 billion.

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