LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Nigerian Government has applied to withdraw the “illegal possession of firearms” case it filed against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar, approached the Federal High court in Ikoyi with an oral application to withdraw the charge and file for 20 new charges.
Abubakar told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application followed the result of further investigations.
READ ALSO: Emefiele Begs Court To Stop FG From Further Prosecution
In opposition, the defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) argued that because the Government was in disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, its application could not be taken.
Recall that the judge had on 25 July, admitted Emefiele to N20 million bail on two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
DSS however, rearrested the Emefiele after fighting off prison officials on the court’s premises.
The Nation reports that the Government has filed fresh charges against Emefiele in Abuja.
READ ALSO: Emefiele’s Re-Arrest Is Legally Procedural – DSS
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Mr. Abubakar said the fresh 20 count-charges were filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
One of the counts accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages.”
Voiceofnaija.ng earlier reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Emefiele from office in June.
Emefiele’s suspension was confirmed by Willie Bassey, the Director, Information, for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
“This is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy,” it read in part.