The arraignment of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele has been postponed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court due to the ongoing strike by the Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Labour Congress.
Following an alleged assault on NLC president Joe Ajaero in Imo State on November 1, 2023, the leadership of the two unions went on strike.
Emefiele’s case was slated to be heard before the FCT high court on Wednesday, but it did not take place as planned due to the ongoing strike.
The Counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, Oyin Koleoso, had during the court proceedings on November 9 told Justice Olukayode Adeniyi not to release Emefiele on bail, noting that the Federal Government would be arraigning him on November 15.
“Our humble application is that in the interest of the administration of justice, My Lord should decline the application for the release of the applicant to avoid a situation where the arraignment will be stalled.
“Releasing him will pose further problems for the prosecution to get him to attend court for his arraignment. We urge the court to decline the exercise of discretion in favor of the applicant for bail, ”Koleoso had said.
Adeniji, however, granted Emefiele bail and ordered that he should be released and produced in court for his arraignment on Wednesday.
Workers in the court told our correspondent who had visited for the matter that no court was sitting.
They said the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria at the Federal Capital Territory High Court directed them to join the strike.
In addition to this, our correspondent did not observe the presence of lawyers and litigants in the court premises as of the time of filing this report.