Reprieve came the way of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos granted him bail in the sum of ₦20 million on Tuesday.
He was brought to the federal high court, Ikoyi, Lagos, by DSS operatives at around 9am.
The DSS had filed a two-count charge against Emefiele last week after arresting him on June 9, 2023, on the grounds of terrorism.
Following an order to the DSS to either release Emefiele or file another charge against the former CBN chief, the Federal Government instituted illegal possession of firearm and ammunition charges which were allegedly discovered at his home in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The counsel to the government, a Deputy Director of Prosecution, N.B. Jones, said that “As I stand here, I have not set eyes on it,” in response to Daudu’s statement that a bail application had been submitted and approved by the Attorney General of the Federation’s office.
Daudu prayed the court to free Emefiele from the “oppression” of the DSS, having been in their custody since June 9.
Despite protest from the counsel to the Federal Government, Justice Oweibo granted Emefiele’s request, putting his bail fee at N20 million.
The presiding judge, Justice Oweibo also ordered that Emefiele produce a surety in like sum.
Newsmen report that Emefiele was arraigned before Justice Oweibo on Tuesday on a two count charge of illegal possession of firearm brought against him by the Department of State Service (DSS).
Emefiele’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) applied for his bail after the he pleaded not guilty to the two count charge, contending that the offense for which Emefiele was charged is bailable.
It would be recalled that Emefiele was suspended from office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the 9th of June, 2023 and was picked up by the DSS the following day. He has been in the custody of the secret police since then despite court orders to the contrary.