A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday struck out charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition preferred against suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo struck out the charges for lack of diligent prosecution, following an application by the Federal Government to withdraw the charges.
The oral application was made on Tuesday by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Mr Abubakar had said that the application was informed by emerging facts that needed further investigations.
He had prayed the court to grant the application.
Mr Emefiele’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had, however, opposed the application.
Mr Daudu argued that the government was in disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele’s bail and, therefore, should not have its application entertained by the court.
“We have an application that the government has flouted the court’s order which says the respondent/ defendant should be remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Service,” he submitted.
He added that the application for withdrawal of charges must be in writing.
The court had on July 25 admitted Mr Emefiele to N20 million bail after he was arraigned on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
NAN
