FG files 20 fresh charges against Emefiele in Abuja

FG files 20 fresh charges against Emefiele in Abuja

The Federal Government has filed 20 fresh charges against the suspended Central  Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele in Abuja.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar disclosed this to journalists in Lagos on Tuesday.

He had earlier approached the Federal High Court in Ikoyi with an oral application to withdraw the firearms charge against Emefiele.

According to Abubakar, the fresh charges with 20 counts had been filed against Emefiele at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The Federal High Court had reserved ruling till Thursday to decide either to grant the oral application made by the Federal Government to withdraw the charge filed and pending against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The Government said the decision to withdraw the charge against Emefiele was informed by emerging facts and circumstances of the case which required thorough investigation.

Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, leading the defence team, however, opposed the Federal government’s oral application, submitting that the government should first of all obey the court order releasing Emefiele on bail.

Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, leading the defence team, however, opposed the Federal government’s oral application, submitting that the government should first of all obey the court order releasing Emefiele on bail.

On July 25, Emefiele was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on “illegal possession of firearms” at a federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The suspended CBN governor has been in the eyes of the storm since he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu in June.

He was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) for almost a month before he was arraigned in court for possession of firearms.

Emefiele was granted bail of N20 million and ordered that he be remanded at the correctional Centre till he perfected the bail conditions, but the DSS forcefully took him away.