In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government has made a move to withdraw the case of “illegal possession of firearms” it had brought against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The development unfolded on Tuesday during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Lagos State.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, presented an oral application to Justice Nicholas Oweibo, explaining that the decision to withdraw the charges was based on the outcome of further investigations. However, the application was met with opposition from Emefiele’s legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Daudu. Daudu asserted that the government must first address its non-compliance with the court’s order granting Emefiele bail before any such application could be entertained.
Justice Oweibo has adjourned the matter to Thursday, August 17, 2023, when he will make a ruling on the application.
This legal maneuver took an unexpected turn as the DPP revealed that fresh charges have been filed against Emefiele, this time consisting of 20 counts. These charges have been filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. One of the counts specifically accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages.”
The development not only marks a shift in the legal proceedings but also underscores the intricate nature of the case surrounding the suspended CBN Governor. As this story unfolds, the coming days are likely to shed more light on the motivations behind the withdrawal of charges and the subsequent filing of new counts against Emefiele.
