FG Files Dreadful Charges Against Emefiele
Against expectations, the Federal Government in a new twist has filed a two-count charge of illegal processions of a gun and ammunition against the suspended and detained Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The charge sheet showed that the Nigerian government through the Department of State Services (DSS), pointedly accused Emefiele of being in possession of a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without an authorised license.
However, Emefiele’s lawyer insisted that the embattled suspended CBN Governor has a valid licence for the gun that was found in his possession.
The government stated that the offenses are 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.
Similarly, the Federal Government in the second count, accused Emefiele of also being in possession of 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without an approved licence, an offence it said is 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.
The case which is yet to be assigned to a judge is coming on the heels of the judgement of an FCT High Court on Friday which voided the arrest and detention of Emefiele, saying that it violated an order of a High Court issued in December 29, 2022 that barred the Federal Government and its security agencies particularly the DSS from arresting Emefiele.
The suspended Governor of the CBN, Emefiele has been in the custody of the secret police since June 10, 2023 when he was arrested and flown from Lagos to Abuja.
