The suspended former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was on Tuesday granted bail by the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Emefiele was arraigned before the court by the Department of State Security (DSS) over a two-count charge of illegal possession of one unlicensed shot gun several rounds of ammunitions.
After his detention in the DSS custody for almost one month, the Federal High Court in Abuja asked the DSS to either set him free or charge Emefiele to court for whatever offences he was being accused of.
In compliance with the court’s order, the DSS arraigned him in court over a two-count count charge of illegal possession of one single barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without official licence contrary to the provisions of the Section 4 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 of the Federation 2004, which was punishable on conviction under the provisions of Section 27(1)b(i) of the same law.
Also,the DSS accused Emefiele of being in possession of 123 rounds of live ammunitions (Cartridges) without license contrary to the provisions of Section 8 of the Firearms law punishable under Section 27(1)b(ii) of the same law.
Although the former CBN governor was returned to the DSS custody after the charge, he was back in court on Tuesday where he was formally arraigned.
When the two-count charge against him was read out in court, Emefiele pleaded not guilty as his lawyer filed an application to request for the court’s order for his immediate release on bail.
Counsel to the DSS opposed the application for bail by Emefiele, claiming they were not given sufficient time to study the application.
The DSS also accused Emefiele of refusing to surrender his international passport, saying they were afraid the embattled former CBN boss could escape from the country if the bail was granted.
However, the presiding judge, Nicholas Oweibo, after listening to the pleas and arguments on both sides in the case ruled that the charges against Emefiele were bailable and therefore granted the application in the sum of N20 million in addition to one surety in like sum, who must be a senior civil servant who must have a property in Lagos.
The judge had also directed that Emefiele should be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Prison till he perfects his bail conditions before his release.
While still inside the court premises on Tuesday waiting for his lawyers to perfect his bail conditions, the operatives of the DSS were jostling to rearrest him and take him back to their custody to face fresh charges.
It was not immediately clear what new charges the DSS was preparing to charge him.
Before the court proceedings commenced, Emefiele arrived the court in a white Toyota Hilux pick up van at about 9.20 am in the company of his legal counsel, Joseph Daudu, a senior advocate of Nigeria.
The ccase was adjourned to November 14 for commencement of trial.
