The Federal Government has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss the illegal possession of guns allegation it brought against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The judge had ordered Emefiele’s remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the completion of his bail conditions, on July 25, after admitting him to a N20 million bail on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The bank president was subsequently detained by the DSS in Lagos and transported by air to Abuja. Nevertheless, the Department of State Services (DSS) re-arrested him during an altercation with prison guards.
Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), informed Justice Nicholas Oweibo on Tuesday that the new application followed the result of further investigations.
He made his application orally.But defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), opposed him, arguing that because the government was in disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, its application could not be taken.
Speaking with journalists after the day’s proceedings, Abubakar said the fresh charges were filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
One of the counts accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.
On June 9, Tinubu had suspended Emefiele and ordered investigation into some allegations leveled against him.