The Federal Government on Tuesday applied to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, in an oral application, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application is premised on the result of further investigations.
Emefiele’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, opposed the application insisting that the Government must first purge itself of the disobedience of court order granting Emefiele bail, before its application could be taken.
Justice Oweibo adjourned till Thursday, August 17, 2023 to rule on the application.
In an interview with journalists after the day’s proceedings, the DPP said a fresh 20- count has been filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court against the suspended CBN Governor.
One of the counts, he said, accused Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.
Credible News recalls that on July 25, Oweibo had ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the completion of his bail conditions, after admitting him to a N20 million bail on two charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
But the Department of State Services had re-arrested him after a scuffle with prison officials.