The immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty before the Federal High Court, Lagos, to a charge of illegal possession of firearms brought against him by the Ministry of Justice.
He was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on unlicensed possession of firearms.
In the first count, Emefiele was 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.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, had, after his client pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge, applied for his bail, contending that the offense for which Emefiele was charged is bailable.
The DSS had picked up Emefiele about a month ago after he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
He was brought to court in a white Toyota Hilux pick-up van, with the plate number covered, around 9:23 a.m
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday granted the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele bail.
The court granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N20 million and a surety in like sum.
Credit: dailypost.ng
