By Halimah Olamide
There seems to be no end in sight for the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, as the Federal Government on Tuesday filed 20 charges against him bordering on conferring unlawful advantages” and others.
Before filing the fresh charges, the governor through its Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar sought to withdraw its initial charges of illegal possession of firearms against Emefiele.
The DPP told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the application followed the result of further investigations which revealed more grievous offences committed by the embattled CBN governor. Speaking with journalists after the day’s proceedings Mr. Abubakar said the fresh charges – with 20 counts – were filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
One of the counts accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had adjourned till August 15, 2023, for hearing of applications seeking to stop further prosecution of Emefiele, while that of the Ministry of Justice sought to appeal the bail granted Emefiele by the court.
Justice Oweibo fixed the date after listening to arguments of parties on whether they were ripe for hearing or to enable the defence reply the prosecution’s further counter affidavit which was served on the defence in court just before the proceedings began.
Ruling on whether the applications were ripe for hearing, the judge noted that the application of the prosecution has been concluded and was ripe for hearing but because the defence has not responded to the further counter affidavit served on him in court, it will be best for the applications to be taken jointly in one day.
Consequently, the judge adjourned the matter to August 15, for hearing of all applications.