An FCT high court in Maitama on Wednesday admitted the embattled former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele to bail in the sum of ₦300 million.

Justice Maryann Anenih granted him bail while ruling on his bail application over an alleged unlawful naira colour swap. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission brought against him a – count amended charge bordering on disobedience to the direction of the law.

Anenih in addition, ordered two sureties in the like sum of ₦300 million who must have property in Maitama district of Abuja. The sureties, she said, must in addition present the title documents and certificates of occupancy (C of O) to the court for verification.

The sureties in addition must submit to the Registrar of the court their recent passport photographs. The judge further added that Emefiele should submit to the registrar of the court his travelling documents and must be within Abuja within the period of his trial.

The judge ordered the certified true copy (CTC) from Justice Hamza Muazu who granted him bail in the same conditions. He earlier held that bail is at the discretion of the court according to what was placed before it, however, according to the law.

He added that the offence of six counts of confinement of advantage on self attracted 5 years imprisonment as punishment.

He held that there was nothing in the prosecution’s submission that showed that Emefiele would abscond or would jeopardise an investigation or threaten the security of the country.

Aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employee Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations and Technical and Recreational Employees, have instructed Nigeria Meteorology Agency staff to begin strike action on Monday, May 20, 2024.

This was disclosed in a letter dated 14 May 2024, obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.

The strike stems from management’s failure to address 45 months of minimum wage arrears and consequential adjustments for staff members.

The union, represented by the three General Secretaries: Ocheme Aba, Abdulrasaq Seidu, and Waheed Sikiru, wrote a letter addressed to NiMET’s Director General, Prof Charles Anoske, with the subject line ‘Re: Failure to Pay 45-Month Arrears of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment—14 days ultimatum.’

The ultimatum had been issued, and management responded with what seemed like a compromise: paying off the 45 months of arrears in installments.

They also expressed their dismay that the agency’s staff has been awaiting the palliative payments sanctioned by the Federal Government since October 2023. Furthermore, they highlighted that the 25-35 per cent salary increase has not been implemented for them, alongside NiMET’s exclusion from receiving Peculiar Allowances.

“Furthermore, our Unions through a joint letter dated 4, April 2024, did request for review of the outdated conditions of service. To date the management has deemed our Unions unfit for any response,” it read.

The letter further reads, “The above catalogue of woes, and others unmentioned confirm that NiMET Staff have been consigned to the lin bin of abject poverty – worse than any existing aviation establishment. In our considered view, it is inhuman on the part of management to be forborne with these conditions and irresponsible on the part of unions to tolerate this situation for this long.

“Therefore, this letter serves as notice to the management of NiMET that the staff members of the agency are, by a copy of this letter, directed to withdraw all services with effect from Monday, May 20, 2024, unless and until the outstanding 42 months arrears of consequential adjustment is fully liquidated.

“NIMET Salary structure is adapted to an appropriate Federal Government approved structure and all accruable payments liquidated, Management commences review of the outdated CoS with our Unions with a definite timeline for delivery and actualisation.”

Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been arraigned on a fresh four-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former CBN governor was arraigned before Maryann Anenih, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court, and pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

The anti-graft agency is accusing Emefiele of “illegal” printing of naira notes in its fresh charge.