LAGOS, Nigeria — On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the Federal Government sought to withdraw its “illegal possession of firearms” case against the embattled Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The withdrawal application, made before the Federal High Court in Lagos, came as a surprise to many.
Mohammed Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, at the Federal Ministry of Justice, cited “further investigations” as the reason for the government’s reversal.
“The decision was taken in light of new information that emerged from our investigations,” said Mr. Abubakar, making his application orally to Justice Nicholas Oweibo.
Yet, this move was not without contest. Joseph Daudu, the defense counsel, resisted the government’s request.
He stated, “Given the government’s previous disregard for the court’s bail order for Mr. Emefiele, the court should view this withdrawal application with caution.”
For those unfamiliar with the case, Emefiele had been granted a N20 million bail on July 25, related to a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Despite the court order, he was taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending his bail’s fulfilment.
The re-arrest unfolded amid a scuffle between DSS agents and Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) officials right on the courthouse steps.
Adding another layer to this judicial saga, Mr. Abubakar later revealed to journalists that the government had launched a new set of charges against Emefiele, this time in Abuja.
“We’ve filed fresh charges, 20 counts in total, at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court,” he stated. Among the new allegations is a notable count accusing the CBN Governor of “conferring unlawful advantages.”
With the case’s venue shifting from Lagos to Abuja and the charges evolving, the coming weeks promise to deliver more riveting developments in what’s proving to be one of Nigeria’s most-watched judicial proceedings.
