Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday, July 25 explained why he needs his freedom.
Emefiele had been kept in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 9, 2023 when he was suspended as CBN Governor by President Bola Tinubu.
Emefiele is standing trial on a two-counts charge bordering on possession of a single barrel shot gun, as well as possession of 123 rounds of live ammunition without licences
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The suspended CBN Governor told Justice Nicholas Oweibo of Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Tuesday, that he had been kept in custody for long and had lost so much weight.
As such, he requires medical attention.
Moving the bail application, defence counsel led by Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to admit the defendant to bail as he is not a flight risk being, a reputable former Governor of CBN.
Daudu told the court that the defendant had been kept in custody for long and had lost so much weight and so, requires medical attention.
Defence also informed the court that the defendant will be available to stand trial, adding that assuming the prosecutor had produced a witness, the defence would have been ready to proceed.
He, therefore, urged the court to grant the defendant bail.
In response, the prosecutor informed the court that she was opposed to the bail application of the defendant as he was a flight risk.
She told the court that the defendant had refused to submit his international passport which indicates such flight risk.
Firearms charge: I’m not guilty, Emefiele tells court
Besides, she also told the court that being a very influential citizen of Nigeria, the defendant could also interfere with the case and evidences intended to be led by prosecution.
She urged the court to refuse bail.
In his ruling, Justice Oweibo agreed with the submission of the defence counsel on the grounds that the offence for which the defendant is charged is bailable.
The court consequently granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum
He urged that the defendant be remanded in custody of the correctional service pending perfection of bail
The court adjourned the case until November 14 for trial.
Emefiele remained in the courtroom for several hours.
The custody of Emefiele led to a crisis between DSS and prison officials at the premises of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
After a faceoff between men of the DSS and NCoS, Emefiele was eventually intercepted by the DSS when he stepped out of the court room and taken away in a police vehicle at about 3:15p.m.
It was not clear why the former CBN governor was taken away by the DSS.
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