Why Emefiele is facing trial

Forum 9 months ago

Why Emefiele is facing trial

The suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to the alleged gun possession charge filed against him by the Federal Government.

The embattled CBN boss arrived at the court premises around 9:20am for his alleged gun possession trial.

He is standing trial on two counts of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a license.

The PUNCH reports that the Department of State Services had filed a two-count of illegal processions of firearm and ammunition against the suspended CBN governor.

The DSS in the charge sheet accused Emefiele of possessing a single-barrelled shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a license.

In the second count, the service charged him with illegally possessing 23 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a license. The offence is also said to be contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.

The PUNCH also reported on July 19, 2023, that the Federal High Court in Abuja threatened to issue a warrant for the arrest of the embattled CBN boss over his failure to appear in court to explain the circumstances surrounding an unpaid $53m legal fee arising from the Paris Club refund.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who ordered Emefiele to appear on the next adjourned date, said he was minded to exercise restraint in the proceedings to allow the ex-CBN boss to explain himself.

The development occurred following an intervention by Emefiele’s counsel, Audu Anuga (SAN), praying the court to give his client another opportunity because they had been unable to reach him since the last order, directing him to appear in court.

Anuga told the court that Emefiele, who was suspended as CBN governor, had been in detention. He said all efforts to reach him to communicate the directive of the court to him were unsuccessful.

Justice Ekwo had October last year ordered the CBN governor to appear in court on January 18 over his alleged refusal to obey the order of the court for the payment of the judgment debt in favour of a legal practitioner, Joe Agi (SAN).