The purposed arraignment of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been stalled at the Federal Capital Territory High court, following the industrial strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) at the Federal Capital Territory High Court branch.
JUSUN had directed its members to join the industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over an assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo State on November 1, 2023.
A visit to the court by Channels Television’s correspondent on Wednesday showed a locked gate and no sign of lawyers trooping in and out of the court premises.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, had last week granted Emefiele bail. He ordered that he should be released immediately to his lawyers, who are charged with the responsibility of producing him in court for his arraignment today (Wednesday), or at any other day.
Emefiele’s Long Travails
Emefiele’s travails started when President Bola Tinubu suspended him as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023. A day after, the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that the embattled and suspended CBN chief was in its custody.
After several legal fireworks by Emefiele’s counsel challenging his prolonged detention by the DSS, the secret police bowed to pressure on July 13, 2023 and announced that the suspended apex bank chief had been charged to court.
Emefiele was brought to a Lagos court by DSS operatives in a hilux vehicle on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
Appearing before Justice Oweibo, Emefiele, 61, pleaded “not guilty” to the two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal Government.
Later in August, the DSS withdrew its charges against Emefiele. The secret police freed the embattled ex-bank chief on October 26 just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained him the same day.
The EFCC had failed to produce Emefiele in court last week Monday but the anti-graft agency bowed to the order of the court and produced the former CBN chief court last week Wednesday for the hearing of his bail application.
The judge had granted Emefiele bail last week and with the ex-CBN chief expected to be in court today to take his plea.