Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was on Tuesday morning arraigned at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
He was granted bail in the sum of 20 million and a surety in like sum.
He is standing trial on a two-count charge which accuses him of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence on June 15.
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
The Federal Government, which is prosecuting him, maintained that the offence was contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor was accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence, which was contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
Emefiele was brought to Court in a Toyota Hilux vehicle by DSS officials. He was clean shaven and casually dressed and he walked by himself into the courtroom.
Before his arrival hooded DSS operatives had taken over the court premises.
The courtroom where he is arraigned is very small and journalists were not allowed inside.
Recall that Emefiele has been in DSS custody for over a month. Emefiele ‘s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, had after his client pleaded not guilty to the two count charge, applied for his bail, contending that the offense for which Emefiele was changed is bailable.
