The Federal Government has filed a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Emefiele is accused of possessing a single-barrel shotgun, JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371 without a licence.
The government maintained that the offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27, 1b of the same Act.
In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor was accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition, cartridges, without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27; 1, b, il, of the same Act.
The case is yet to be assigned to a judge, but there are indications that this will be done Monday.
Emefiele has been in the custody of the DSS since June 10. The spokesman for the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, had said it was for “investigative reasons”.
Afunanya, in a statement on Thursday, also disclosed that the agency had charged Emefiele to court following an Abuja High Court ruling.
Count one of the charges reads: That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street, Maitama Abuja, on or about the 15th of June 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession one Single Barrel shotgun, JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371, without a licence. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap. F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27, 1b, of the same Act.
Count two: That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about June 15, 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession one hundred and ywenty-three rounds of live ammunition, Cartridges without a licence You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27; 1, b, il, of the same Act.
Meanwhile, another Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday voided the arrest and detention of Emefiele by the DSS.
Justice Bello Kawu held that the arrest, detention, and interrogation of Emefiele are in violation of the subsisting judgement and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan.
The court further granted an injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the DSS from arresting, detaining or interfering with Mr. Emefiele’s personal liberty and freedom of movement.
