By Kasim Isa Muhammad
The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has applied to a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an end to further prosecution by the Federal Government, specifically through the Department of State Services (DSS).
Emefiele was initially arraigned by the DSS on July 25 on charges of allegedly possessing a firearm illegally.
Despite being granted bail, he was re-arrested by the DSS, prompting his legal team, led by Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, to request an order from Justice Nicholas Oweibo to clear him of all charges.
Emefiele’s application also includes a plea for the court to prevent the Federal Government from benefiting from any future judicial leniency until it complies with the bail orders issued on July 25, 2023.
His lawyers argue that the actions of the DSS have shown “brazen disobedience” to these court orders.
“Relying on Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and under the inherent powers of the court, Emefiele wants the court to stay further proceedings in the current charge until he exhausts all the remedies available to him in law to compel the government and the DSS to obey the order of the court admitting him to bail or remanding him in prison custody until he perfects his bail terms.
“In the application, he is seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to enforce its orders, so as not to be seen “as a toothless bulldog or paper tiger.”
Emefiele states that his latest application aims to protect and uphold the “effectiveness, dignity, and integrity of the court, along with the rule of law within our democracy.
Additionally, the DSS has lodged complaints against him, and the court is scheduled to consider the new application today.
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