Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has rejected an application by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for permission to travel to the United Kingdom for a follow-up medical checkup.

Justice Muazu, in a ruling, held among others, that Emefiele failed to supply sufficient materials to show that the medical trip was essential and unavoidable.

Justice Muazu found that, while Emefiele claimed there was an invitation for him to travel to the UK for medical attention, he failed to tender a copy of the said invitation in court.

The judge also found that Emefiele did not show that his ailment could not be attended to in the country.

Recall that Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over the alleged illegal award of contracts brought against him by the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on March 2024, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, that Emefiele and nine other officials at the apex bank were involved in allegedly approving multi-billion contracts to his wife, Margaret, brother-in-law and staff of the apex bank, Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro.