Illegal Possession Of Firearm: Emefiele moves to stop DSS from further prosecution

Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has filed a suit seeking an injunction against the Federal Government’s continued prosecution of him for allegedly, illegally possessing firearms and ammunition at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

He is also seeking an order of the court discharging him of all offences leveled against him and he “brazen disobedience” of the subsisting orders of the court granting him bail on July 25, 2023.

The embattled CBN governor also asked for a further order prohibiting the FG from continuing to enjoy any form of indulgence from the courts, except and unless it complies with the bail ruling.

Emefiele, through his lawyers led by Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN), filed an application to this effect before a vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, who had admitted him to bail after his arraignment.

The application was filed pursuant to Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and under the inherent powers of the court.

Emefiele asked Justice Oweibo to stay further proceedings in the present charge until he exhausts all the remedies available to him in law to compel the government and the DSS to obey the order of the court admitting him to bail or remanding him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre until he perfects his bail terms.

A member of the defence team, Mr Victor Opara (SAN), confirmed that the application which was filed on Tuesday, was served to the federal government on Wednesday.

Persecondnews gathered that the Federal Government had on August 3, filed an application before the court, seeking leave to appeal against the order granting bail to the suspended CBN governor.

In the application filed by a Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mrs Nkiru Jones-Nebo, the FG asked the court for a stay of execution on the order remanding Emefiele in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services and to make an order remanding him instead in the custody of the DSS.

Oweibo has fixed Thursday, August 10, for hearing of the application.