Updated: Court grants Emefiele N20 million bail after pleading not guilty to charges

Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was granted bail in the sum of N20m and one surety by the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on Tuesday.

This followed his not guilty plea of the allegations levelled against him by Nigeria’s secret police over the possession of a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without the appropriate license.

Emefiele was arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, after over six weeks since his arrest and detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).

After several legal fireworks by Emefiele’s counsel challenging his prolonged detention by the DSS, the secret police bowed to pressure on July 13, 2023 and announced that the suspended apex bank chief has been charged to court.

Emefiele was brought to court by DSS operatives in a hilux vehicle) at 09:21am on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Appearing before Justice Oweibo, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, led other lawyers in Emefiele’s defence.

After Emefiele’s plea, Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told the court that his client has been in detention for weeks. He also told Justice Oweibo that the application for bail has been filed and served on the prosecution.

Meanwhile, the DSS raised objections to the court hearing the bail application, insisting that it has not been served.

Recall, following the suspension of Emefiele by president Tinubu as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023. A day after, the DSS confirmed that the embattled, suspended CBN chief was in its custody.

An Abuja High Court on July 13, 2023 subsequently ordered that the DSS charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him.