On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos granted bail to the once-influential figure of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
This verdict followed his suspension from his position as the Governor of the CBN, and subsequent arrest by The Department of State Services (DSS).
In what brought temporary relief to Mr. Emefiele, the court granted him bail of ₦20 million. However, this wasn’t all, as the court deemed it necessary to also mandate the provision of a corresponding surety.
This was sequel to The Department of State Services (DSS) pressing two-count charges of illegal firearm possession against him.
The Ministry of Justice has prosecuted him on account of possessing a single-barrelled shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without the necessary licence.
As part of the charges, he is alleged to have 23 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) in his possession without a valid licence.
It is worth noting that Emefiele had spent more than a month in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Read also: Emefiele: DSS Sabotaging Rule Of Law – Oduduwa Youths
In response to his client’s plea of not guilty to the two-count charge, Emefiele’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, wasted no time in applying for bail for Mr. Emefiele.
Daudu argued that the offence for which Emefiele was charged is eligible for bail.
Emefiele’s appearance in court was marked by a white Hillux pick-up van’s arrival, its number plates deliberately covered, precisely at 9:23 a.m.
Stepping out of the van as he arrived at the court, Emefiele was seen aided by an unknown woman, whose identity could not be ascertained as of filing this report.
Subsequently, he was escorted to the courtroom presided over by Justice Nicolas Oweibo, who served as the trial judge in this case.
The offences were committed by the defendant on June 15, 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.