Suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday morning, was arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
Emefiele was arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, after over six weeks since his arrest and detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).
After several legal fireworks by Emefiele’s counsel challenging his prolonged detention by the DSS, the secret police bowed to pressure on July 13, 2023 and announced that the suspended apex bank chief has been charged to court.
Emefiele was brought to court by DSS operatives in a hilux vehicle on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
Appearing before Justice Oweibo, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, led other lawyers in Emefiele’s defence.
After Emefiele’s plea, Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (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.
Meanwhile, the DSS raised objections to the court hearing the bail application, insisting that it has not been served.
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. (Channels)