In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government has formally applied to withdraw the case of “illegal possession of firearms” that it had filed against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The application was submitted on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Read Also Tinubu putting Nigerians through scary, difficult times – Popular APC Governor’s wife
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar, made the announcement in front of Justice Nicholas Oweibo. According to Abubakar, the decision to withdraw the case stemmed from the results of additional investigations that had taken place since the initial charges were filed.
The application for withdrawal was made verbally, prompting defense counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) to counter the move. Daudu argued that the government’s application could not be accepted due to its failure to comply with the court’s earlier order granting Emefiele bail. The suspended CBN Governor had been granted bail on July 25th under a N20 million bond, with conditions that required him to fulfill certain legal requirements.
In an unexpected development, the Department of State Services (DSS) had rearrested Emefiele, sparking a confrontation with officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on the premises of the court. This event added complexity to the legal proceedings surrounding the embattled bank chief.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Federal Government has filed fresh charges against Emefiele in Abuja. The new charges include a total of 20 counts and have been lodged with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. One of these counts specifically accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages.”
As the situation continues to evolve, further details are expected to emerge in the coming days. The case has captured the attention of the nation, raising questions about the future of the suspended CBN Governor and the broader implications for Nigeria’s legal system.
Quick Links
- News in Nigeria
- Dollar to NairaÂ
- Politics in Nigeria
- Pool Fixtures
- Pool Results
- Pool codes
- Npower News
- Jobs in Nigeria
