Suspended CBN Gov. Emefiele arraigned, pleads not guilty to illegal firearm charges (Video)
Suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was arraigned on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Officials from the Department of State Services (DSS) brought him to the court at 09:21 am.
Emefiele appeared before the vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo. Leading the defense team was former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, along with other lawyers.
The suspended apex bank chief pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
READ ALSO: Former CBN Governor Emefiele to face court on illegal firearms, ammunition charges
After the plea, Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that his client had been in detention for weeks. He also mentioned that the application for bail had been filed and served on the prosecution.
President Bola Tinubu had suspended Emefiele as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023. The following day, the DSS confirmed that the embattled, suspended CBN chief was in its custody.
On July 13, 2023, an Abuja High Court ordered the secret police to charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him. The DSS complied and charged Emefiele to court as per the court order.
Subsequently, the Federal Government filed two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against Emefiele before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
According to the charge sheet, Emefiele was accused of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a license, an offense contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor was accused of having 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a license, an offense contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
The first count reads as follows: ‘That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about the 15th of June 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession one (1) Single Barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a license. You thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap. F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.’
The second count reads: ‘That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about June 15, 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession One Hundred and Twenty-Three (123) Rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a license You thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.’
Emefiele later requested the court to grant him bail on self-recognizance, but the court has not ruled on the matter yet.
Watch the video below:
