The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has granted N20 million bail to Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.
Emefiele was arraigned on Tuesday by the Department of State Services (DSS) with two counts bordering on alleged possession of firearms.
In the first count, Emefiele is accused of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor is accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
The suspended CBN Governor was brought to the court by DSS officials at 9:21a.m.
After his non-guilty plea, defence counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), who led four other senior advocates, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.
The judge had earlier rejected the claim by the Federal Government that Emefiele was a flight risk.
Firearms charge: I’m not guilty, Emefiele tells court
Justice Oweibo told the Federal Government that it failed to provide material evidence to support its claim.
Moving the application, defence counsel urged the court to admit the defendant to bail as he is not a flight risk being, a reputable former Governor of CBN.
He told the court that the defendant had been kept in custody for long and had lost so much weight and so, requires medical attention.
Defence also informed the court that the defendant will be available to stand trial, adding that assuming the prosecutor had produced a witness, the defence would have been ready to proceed.
He, therefore, urged the court to grant the defendant bail.
In response, the prosecutor informed the court that she was opposed to the bail application of the defendant as he was a flight risk
She told the court that the defendant had refused to submit his international passport which indicates such flight risk
Besides, she also told the court that being a very influential citizen of Nigeria, the defendant could also interfere with the case and evidences intended to be led by prosecution.
She urged the court to refuse bail.
In his ruling, Justice Oweibo agreed with the submission of the defence counsel on the grounds that the offence for which the defendant is charged is bailable.
The court held that bail can only be denied where any of the circumstances set out in section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, is established.
The court held that the prosecution has not furnished such circumstances before the court.
The court consequently granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum
The court held that the surety must depose to an affidavit of means. and have a landed property.
He urged that the defendant be remanded in custody of the correctional service pending perfection of bail
The court adjourned the case until November 14 for trial.
President Bola Tinubu had on June 9, 2023 suspended Emefiele as CBN Governor. He was picked up the same day by the DSS.
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