Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of firearms.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Emefiele was on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was charged with two counts of possession of a single-barrel shotgun and 123 rounds of live ammunition without a license.
The charges stem from Emefiele’s alleged possession of the weapons at his home in Ikoyi on June 15, 2023. The Department of State Services (DSS) claims to have recovered the weapons during a search of Emefiele’s home.
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 (1) 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 reads: ‘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 Twenty-Three (123) 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.’
Emefiele’s lawyers, led by former NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN), entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
The Federal Government, which is prosecuting him, says the possession of a gun was contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act. The government also said his possession of 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
Godwin Emefiele was appointed governor of the CBN in 2014.
He was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on 9th June 2023 and later arrested by the DSS.
More details coming…
