By Peace O. Aboje
THE federal government on Tuesday orally applied to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case preferred against the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application followed the result of further investigation.
Joseph Daudu (SAN), defense counsel for Emefiele, however opposed the application insisting that the government must first purge itself of the disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, before its application could be taken.
The judge had on July 25, 2023 admitted Emefiele to a N20 million bail on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail condition. The DSS, however rearrested the embattled Emefiele after fighting off Nigerian Correctional Service officials in the court’s premises.
Justice Oweibo has however adjourned till Thursday 17, 2023 to rule on the application.
The DPP told journalists after Tuesday’s proceedings that a fresh 20 counts charges have been filed at the federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court against the suspended CBN governor.
One of the counts, he said accused Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”
