A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned proceedings until August 15, 2023, to consider an application filed by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele. Emefiele seeks to halt his prosecution by the Federal Government. On the same day, the court will also hear the Federal Government’s application through the Ministry of Justice, requesting leave to appeal the bail granted to Emefiele.
Emefiele was arraigned on July 25, facing charges of illegal possession of firearms by the Department of State Service (DSS). Following an earlier court judgment declaring his arrest and arraignment illegal, Emefiele filed a fresh application to halt his prosecution.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo adjourned the proceedings to the new date to allow the defence to respond to the prosecution’s further counter affidavit, which was served just before the hearing. The court ruled that both applications would be heard together since the defence had not yet responded to the counter affidavit.
Emefiele’s application seeks an order prohibiting the complainant from further prosecuting the charges against him and requests his discharge from the case. He argues that until the complainant complies with the court’s orders, it cannot lawfully continue prosecuting the case or be given an audience in any Nigerian court. The court also ordered a stay of further proceedings in the present charge until Emefiele exhausts all legal remedies available to compel the government to obey the court’s order regarding his bail.
