By Oladipo Abiola

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has denied a request by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, asking to travel out of the country for a medical check up.

The judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, in dismissing the request, said Emefiele did not provide enough justification for him to be allowed to travel out of the country for medical checks.

Naija News reports that the former CBN Governor, who is standing trial for alleged corruption and mismanagement of public office, had sought the permission of the court for his international passport to be released so he could travel to the United Kingdom for medical checks.

However, the legal team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the request.

Ruling on the application on Tuesday, Justice Muazu said it is a fact that the defendant is presumed innocent pending the determination of his case. However, he added that Emefiele did not provide any letter from the UK hospital showing his medical conditions among other things.

“As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the applicant travel outside Nigeria, ” the judge held.

“The application fails and is hereby dismissed, ” he added.

Emefiele was arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court over the alleged illegal award of contracts.

The commission alleged that Emefiele allegedly approved multi-billion contracts to his wife, Margaret, brother-in-law and staff of the apex bank, Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro.

Emefiele denied the allegations and subsequently applied to the court for leave to travel to the UK from July 28 and return on September 10, 2024 but his request has been denied.

The former CBN governor is facing criminal proceedings in two other trial courts in Lagos and Abuja.