The arrested Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele has just appeared at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for his arraignment on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
The Department of State Services, DSS, officials had brought him to court at about 9:21 am.
Emefiele had been arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, the vacation judge on duty.
The suspended CBN governor had pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had been the one to suspend Emefiele as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023.
A day after the suspension, the DSS affirmed that Emefiele was in its custody.
On July 13, an Abuja High Court ordered the secret police service to charge Emefiele to court within one week or set him free.
Acting on the above court order, Emefiele was charged to court.
The Nigerian Federal Government had eventually, filed two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against the apex governor before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In the charge sheet, the Federal Government had accused Emefiele of owning a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a permit.
The government had declared that the offence was contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and was punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
Emefiele has meanwhile, asked the court to admit him to bail on self recognizance but the court has yet to rule on the matter.
