A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday granted the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele bail.
Emefiele was granted bail in the sum of N20 million and a surety in like sum.
This followed a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearm levelled against him by the Department of State Service, DSS.
The judge granted the bail after listening to the submissions of Emefiele’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).
The judge rejected the Federal Government’s claim that Emefiele was a flight risk and should not be granted bail. The judge held that the government failed to provide any fact to support its claim.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, had, after his client pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge, applied for his bail, contending that the offense for which Emefiele was charged is bailable.
While tendering his bail application, Emefiele’s counsel had urged the court to grant his client bail on self recognizance or on other liberal terms, pending the hearing and determination of the trial.
But counsel to the FG, Nkiru Jones-Nebo in an oral submission opposed the bail application insisting that the prosecution had not been given time to respond in line with the provisions of fair hearing enshrined in the constitution.
She also said that the prosecution had information that the defendant’s refusal to hand in his passport suggests his capacity to evade and absond from his trial.
But the court overruled the Federal Government.
The judge held that Emefiele be held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, until he fulfils his bail condition.
His trial has been fixed for November 14.
The DSS had picked up Emefiele about a month ago after he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
He was brought to court in a white Toyota Hilux pick-up van, with the plate number covered, around 9:23 a.m.
