Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has extended the deadline for former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to appear in court to clarify the circumstances regarding a $53 million judgment debt linked to the Paris Club refund.

The new deadline for Emefiele’s appearance is set for January 25, following his failure to attend previous court hearings. In the event of his non-compliance, the judge warned that an arrest warrant would be issued.

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Emefiele’s legal counsel, Audu Anuga (SAN), explained the challenges in securing his client’s presence in court, stating that Emefiele was currently in custody.

The case arose from Senior Advocate of Nigeria Joe Agi’s garnishee proceeding against the CBN to recover a $70 million judgment debt owed by Linas International Limited and the Minister of Finance.

According to court documents, the CBN made partial payments to Agi, leaving a balance of $53 million following the garnishee order absolute.

Justice Ekwo had previously ordered Emefiele to appear before the court to address the matter.

In response to the situation, Emefiele’s lawyer, Anuga, filed an affidavit explaining why an arrest warrant should not be issued against his client.

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A legal officer from the CBN’s Legal Department, Jeremiah Utaan, noted in the affidavit that Emefiele had been held in the custody of the Department of State Services since June 10.

The judge reiterated the importance of adhering to court orders and stressed that Emefiele must attend the next hearing.

The case has been adjourned until January 25, providing Emefiele with an opportunity to clarify the situation and prevent an arrest warrant.