Court Grants Suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele N20Million Bail

 

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has granted bail to Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the sum of N20 million.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge, said the charges against Emefiele were bailable. The bail was granted with one surety.

It was gathered that the court rejected the government’s claim that it had not received a copy of the bail application filed by Emefiele in his alleged gun possession trial.

Justice Oweibo had held that there was evidence that the government was served.

The bail application was filed by Emefiele’s lawyers led by Joseph Dauda (SAN).

Dauda had prayed the court to hear the banker’s application seeking bail on self-recognition, noting that his client had fulfilled all the conditions necessary to make the application ripe for hearing.

He noted further that the proof of service endorsed by the AGF’s office was in the court’s file.

It was gathered that the suspended governor pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge filed against him in court by the Department of State Services (DSS).

It had also been reported that the DSS arraigned Emefiele in court.

The DSS operatives arrived at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, around 9.20am on Tuesday with Emefiele.

It was also gathered that a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the release of the suspended CBN Governor from detention, and ordered DSS to charge him before a court of competent jurisdiction within one week.

It had also been reported on July 14 that Justice Bello Kawu, of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja nullified the detention and interrogation of the embattled Governor by the DSS.