Lagos, Nigeria – The suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, faced the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos on Tuesday, where he was arraigned on two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. This development comes after over six weeks of detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) and a series of legal challenges by Emefiele’s defense team.
In a dramatic courtroom scene, Emefiele, brought before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him by the Federal Government. Leading the defense was former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who highlighted his client’s prolonged detention and the filing of a bail application.
However, the DSS raised objections to the court hearing the bail application, asserting that they had not received the necessary documentation. The clash between the defense and prosecution set the stage for a tense legal battle.
Emefiele’s woes began when President Bola Tinubu suspended him from his position as CBN chief on June 9, 2023, and the DSS confirmed detaining him the following day. Following a subsequent court order, the DSS announced that they had charged the suspended governor to court.
The charges brought against Emefiele by the Federal Government include the possession of a single-barrel shotgun, JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371, without a license, a violation of Section 4 of the Firearms Act. Additionally, he is accused of possessing 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a license, an offense contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act.
The arraignment marks a significant escalation in the legal battle surrounding the embattled CBN governor. Emefiele’s defense is seeking bail, but the court has not yet ruled on the matter.
As the proceedings unfold, the nation remains captivated by this high-profile case, which has implications for the financial sector and the rule of law in Nigeria. The next court dates and decisions will be closely monitored, as both sides prepare to present their arguments in what promises to be a contentious legal showdown.
