Court Grants Emefiele N20m Bail After Six Weeks In DSS Custody

Court Grants Emefiele N20m Bail After Six Weeks In DSS Custody

The Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has granted bail to the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in the sum of N20m with one surety in like sum.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted bail to Emefiele after listening to the submissions of Emefiele’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

Suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele arrives at the Federal High Court for his arraignment on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition

The judge rejected the Federal Government’s claim that Emefiele was a flight risk.

Justice Oweibo also rejected the Federal Government’s claim that it is yet to receive a copy of the bail application filed by Emefiele, in his alleged gun possession trial.

The judge held that there was evidence that the government had been served.

He ruled that the government failed to provide any facts to support its claim.

Daudu had urged the court to hear the defendant’s application seeking bail on self-recognition, noting that his client had fulfilled all the conditions necessary to make the application ripe for hearing.

He stated that the proof of service endorsed by the AGF’s office was in the court’s file.

Daudu asked the court to end what he described as the “oppression of his client by the Department of State Security”, which arrested him and hear the bail application.

“There should be an end to oppression,” he added.

But the government’s lawyer, a Deputy Director of Prosecution, N.B. Jones, told the court that she had not been furnished with the bail application.

“As I stand here, I have not set eyes on it,” she said.

Emefiele is standing trial on a two-count charge of illegal possession of a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence on June 15, 2023, at Ikoyi.

Court Grants Emefiele N20m Bail After Six Weeks In DSS Custody