The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has taken legal action by filing an application with a Federal High Court in Lagos to halt the ongoing prosecution led by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services (DSS).
Emefiele, who was arraigned on July 25 by the DSS on charges of alleged illegal possession of a firearm, had been granted bail by the court but was later re-arrested by the DSS.
In the application submitted to Justice Nicholas Oweibo, Emefiele’s legal team, led by Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, is requesting the court to dismiss all charges brought against him by the DSS.
They argue that the government’s actions constitute “brazen disobedience” to the court’s existing orders, which granted him bail on July 25, 2023.
Additionally, Emefiele seeks an order that bars the Federal Government from enjoying any court privileges unless it complies with the bail ruling.
Citing legal provisions such as Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, as well as the court’s inherent powers, Emefiele requests that the court suspend further proceedings in the ongoing case until he exhausts all available legal avenues to ensure the government’s adherence to the court’s orders regarding his bail terms.
Emefiele’s application aims to ensure that the court’s authority is upheld and that the rule of law prevails in the nation’s democracy. While the Department of State Services has responded to Emefiele’s claims, the court is set to consider the fresh application today.