Court strikes out FG’s firearms charge against Emefiele
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has struck out the charge of “illegal possession of firearm and possession” brought against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The Judge, Nicholas Oweibo, in his ruling, held that the application filed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) seeking the withdrawal of the case is found in Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which empowers him to withdraw and there was no need for the application to be in writing.
The judge questioned what good it would serve to the defence if the court did not permit the withdrawal of the charge.
Oweibo then struck out the two-count charges against Emefiele for lack of diligent prosecution.
Lawyard reported that the Federal Government, on Tuesday, August 15, filed fresh charges against Emefiele in Abuja.
This was disclosed to journalists after the day’s proceedings by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar.
Abubakar said the fresh charges – with 20 counts – were filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
One of the counts accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.
Meanwhile, Emefiele’s arraignment on a fresh 20 counts charge on Thursday has stalled.
The arraignment was delayed due to the absence of one of the defendants who joined in the charge.
