*Photo: Emefiele (left) being assisted into the court*
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted bail to the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele in his alleged gun possession trial.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo released Emefiele on a N20million bail bond with one surety in the like sum.
The judge made the order following the banker’s “not guilty” plea to a two-count charge filed against him by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
He rejected the Federal Government’s claim that Emefiele was a flight risk. The judge ruled that the government failed to provide any fact to support its claim.
Emefiele, 61, had filed the application through his team of counsel led by Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association
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.
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.
On arrival at the court, Emefiele stepped down from the van and was assisted by a female before Justice Nicolas Oweibo