Mr.Godwin Emefiele, erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who has been held in custody for 25 days by government authorities, has finally been charged to an Abuja High Court for alleged illegal possession of a firearm.
According to the charge sheet before the court, Emefiele is alleged to have been in possession of one single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence.
It is further stated in the charge sheet, that the offence runs contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and is punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
The second count of the charge purports that Emefiele was in possession of 123 rounds of live ammunitions (Cartridges) without a licence and that this runs contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and is punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
Feelers indicate that the case is yet to be assigned to a judge. Further indications are that Emefiele will be brought before a High Court in Abuja next week.
The former CBN governor has been in custody of the DSS for 25 days, since June 10 following his suspension from office by government.
Dr.Peter Afunanya, spokesman for the DSS had said then, that Emefiele was being held for “investigative reasons.”
Afunanya, in a statement on Thursday, said the DSS had charged Emefiele to court following an Abuja High Court ruling.
Count one of the charges reads; “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 licence.
“You thereby committed an offence 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.”
Count two 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 licence .
“You thereby committed an offence 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.”
Another Federal High Court in Abuja had voided the arrest and detention of Emefiele by the DSS on Friday.
In delivering judgement, Justice Bello Kawu held that the arrest, detention, and interrogation of Mr.Emefiele are in violation of the subsisting judgement and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan.
Mr Emefiele, through his Counsel, Peter Abang, had asked the court to set aside and nullify the arrest and detention of the Applicant for being illegal and a nullity, in view of the subsisting judgment by another court delivered on 29th December 2022.
Justice Kawu also made an order setting aside any warrant of arrest obtained or procured by the respondents, especially the DSS, for the arrest of Emefiele in connection with the allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, and threat to national security before any court.
The court further granted an injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the DSS from arresting, detaining, or interfering with Mr. Emefiele’s personal liberty and freedom of movement.
The court finally granted an order of injunction directing and mandating the Respondents, particularly the DSS to forthwith, release Mr. Emefiele from any arrest or detention.
