Illegal possession of firearms: Court grants Emefiele N20m bail

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was Tuesday, arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition the Department of State Services (DSS).

The suspended apex bank chief, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Sequel to the nor guilty plea, his counsel, Joseph Daudu, (SAN), told the court that his client has been in detention for weeks. He also told Justice Oweibo that the application for bail has been filed and served on the prosecution.

In a bench ruling, Justice Nicolas Oweibo, admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of N20million and one surety in like sum.

But shortly after Emefiele was granted bail and ordered to be reminded in Prison custody, DSS operatives drove out the Hillux Pick Up van used in bringing Emefiele to court, suggesting that they want to take him back to their detention centre.

Expectedly, Daudu informed the court of DSS’s plot to re-arrests Emefiele despite the bail granted him by the court.

Though the court noted that he had done what was required of him,  Daudu told the court that with the development, they would want to perfect the bail conditions, so that Emefiele could be allowed to go free.

But the judge still in doubt on what he could do in the circumstances, told Daudu to allow him dispose of other matter before the court and get back to him.

Recall that president Bola Tinubu had suspended Emefiele as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023. A day after, the DSS confirmed that the embattled, suspended CBN chief was in its custody.

An Abuja High Court on July 13, 2023 subsequently ordered that the secret police charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him.

Hours after, the DSS said Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the court order.