Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, was on Tuesday, arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
He was brought to the court by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) at 09:21am.
Emefiele was arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo.
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, led other lawyers in Emefiele’s defence.
The suspended apex bank chief, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
After the 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.
President Bola Tinubu had suspended Emefiele 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 secret police charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him.
Hours after, the DSS said Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the court order.
