Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, was on Tuesday arraigned by the Department of State Service (DSS) on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Expectedly, Emefiele, who has been in the DSS custody for over 35 days, pleaded not guilty to the charge slammed on him before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Persecondnews reports that he was brought to court at 09:21am with a copy of the Holy Bible in his right hand.
Emefiele is being tried by a vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo.
While in the dock, the charges were read to him as follow: “That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about the 15th of June 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession one (1) Single Barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap. F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act’.
“That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about June 15, 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession One Hundred and Twenty-Three (123) Rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.”
A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Joseph Daudu (SAN), led other lawyers in Emefiele’s defence.
Daudu told the court that his client has been in detention for several weeks, adding that the application for bail has been filed and served on the prosecution.
Author
Leave a comment