A Nigerian court on Friday ordered the detention of ex-central bank governor Godwin Emefiele over allegations of procurement fraud. He will remain in custody until a bail hearing set for next Wednesday.
Emefiele entered a plea of not guilty to all 20 charges and sought bail through his legal representatives.
“The matter is hereby adjourned to Wednesday, November 22, for ruling on the bail application. Meanwhile, the defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on his bail,” Justice Hamza Muazu said.
The judge announced that the primary trial is scheduled to commence on November 28th.
A judge granted Emefiele bail last week following his successful appeal against five months of detention.
Emefiele, who has maintained silence regarding the case, was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on June 9 and taken into custody the following day.
While in detention, he tendered his resignation in August, thereby creating the opportunity for the appointment of Olayemi Cardoso as the new central bank governor in September.
