Despite a Lagos court’s grant of bail and order that he be relocated from DSS custody and detained at a correctional facility, the secret police re-arrested the suspended CBN chairman.
After a scuffle with officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Department of State Services (DSS) agents re-arrested suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday.
Emefiele was re-arrested on the premises of a Federal High Court in Lagos sitting in Ikoyi after Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted bail in the sum of N20m to the beleaguered and suspended apex bank president.
The judge also ordered Emefiele to be detained in the detention facility until the bail requirements were met.
Following the court verdict, the suspended CBN governor and his lawyers barricaded themselves inside the courtroom.
When prison officials sought to arrest Emefiele pending the completion of his bail conditions, the secret police challenged them, resulting in a brawl.
To avert a gunfight, Emefiele’s lawyers “reluctantly allowed the DSS to disobey court order and take custody of their client” during the altercation.
The jail officials then drove out of the court, and the DSS took over.
At precisely 03:03 p.m., DSS agents took the suspended CBN governor out of the courtroom and into a waiting vehicle.
Emefiele’s appointment as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was terminated by President Bola Tinubu on June 9, 2023. The secret police verified the embattled and suspended CBN chief was in their custody a day later.
Emefiele is arraigned and enters a not guilty plea.
Following multiple legal outbursts by Emefiele’s counsel appealing the DSS’s protracted detention, the secret police caved in on July 13, 2023 and revealed that the suspended apex bank leader had been charged in court.
On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, DSS operatives drove Emefiele to court in a hilux SUV.
Emefiele, 61, appeared before Justice Oweibo and pleaded “not guilty” to the Federal Government’s two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Daudu, urged the court in his submissions to give bail on self-recognizance or on more generous terms, until the trial’s hearing and determination.
“There is no counter-affidavit from the Federal Government opposing bail,” he explained. Furthermore, the defendant is a well-known banker who is only permitted to stay at his home and cannot travel.”
In an oral statement, however, counsel for the Federal Government, Nkiru Jones-Nebo, contested the bail motion, claiming that the prosecution had not been given time to react in accordance with the constitution’s principles for fair hearing.
She also stated that the prosecution had information indicating that the defendant’s unwillingness to turn in his passport indicated his ability to avoid and flee his trial.
“As governor of the CBN, he wields considerable power and has the ability to intimidate witnesses.” If he is released on bail, the prosecution witnesses who have come forward to testify would be intimidated. Based on his priors, he may be able to avoid prosecution. “We respectfully request that the court dismiss the bail application,” she said.
However, the court overruled the government.
The judge also ordered Emefiele to be held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre till the completion of his bail, notwithstanding the prosecution’s request that the defendant be remanded in DSS custody for further investigation into another matter that will be submitted in court soon.
However, the secret police clashed with prison officials who arrived at the court to take Emefiele into jail and then fled with him.
The date of the trial has been set for November 14, 2023.
Bail Terms
“I find and hold that the prosecution has failed to establish why the defendant should not be granted bail,” Justice Oweibo said in his decision on the bail application.
“As a result, the defendant is granted bail in the amount of 20 million naira with one surety in the same amount.”
“The surety must own a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and must be at least Level 16 in the Nigerian Civil Service.”
“The defendant must give the court his international passport.”
“The case has been adjourned for trial on November 14th.”
