BREAKING: Emefiele kicks, as Court strike out firearms charge against him

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has struck out a two-count firearms charge against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

The development followed the application brought before the Justice Nicholas Oweibo by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mohammed Abubakar on Tuesday.

Lead Counsel to the embattled CBN governor, Mr. J.B. Daodu however, objected the Federal government’s application, arguing that the Prosecutor has disrespected the order of the Court when the same court granted bail to Emefiele to the tune of N20 million.

While relying on section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, Abubakar sought to withdraw the two-count charge against the embattled Emefiele, which was granted by Justice Oweibo at the resumed hearing of the application on Thursday.
He further urged the Court to declare government as ‘contemnor’ for not respecting its order when the accused had earlier been granted bail.

“Of what benefit will it be to keep the file in the court’s docket when the prosecution has shown disrespect to the court?
“Accordingly this charge is hereby struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.”

Emefiele has been in the custody of the State Security Services (SSS) (or self-styled Department of State Security) since June 10 following his suspension by President Bola Tinubu on June 9.

Following his arraignment on July 25 on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, Justice Oweibo granted him N20m bail and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
But the DSS rearrested the bank chief after fighting off NCoS officials on the court’s premises.

Following proceedings on August 10, the court fixed Tuesday last week to hear two pending applications filed by either party.
The first application – filed by the Ministry of Justice on August 3 – sought leave to appeal against the N20m bail.

The second – filed by Emefiele on August 8 – asked the court to stop the Federal Government from further prosecuting him on the charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition or any other charge.

When the matter came up Tuesday last week, the DPP, made an oral application to the court seeking to withdraw the charges against Emefiele.

He stated that the application was informed by emerging facts and for circumstances that need further investigation.
CAPITAL POST reported on Tuesday that the Director of Public Prosecution applied to the Court for withdrawal of firearms charge against Mr Emefiele.