FG withdraws arms charges against Emefiele, files fresh charges

The Federal Government on Tuesday made moves to withdraw the charge of illegal possession of firearms filed against Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, while disclosing that a fresh charge had been filed against him at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

At the resumed hearing of the two-count charge suit against Emefiiele, bordering on “illegal possession of firearms” at the Lagos court, Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, in an oral application, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application followed the result of further investigations.

But Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the Counsel for Emefiele, opposed the application, insisting that the government must first purge itself of the disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail before its application could be taken.

Justice Oweibo adjourned the hearing until Thursday, August 17, 2023, to rule on the application.

Speaking to newsmen after the court hearing, Abubakar said a fresh 20-count charge had been filed against Emefiele at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

He disclosed that the counts include “conferring unlawful advantages” to himself.