The Nigerian government has filed charges against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for allegedly possessing firearms and ammunition without a license. The case, consisting of two counts, was presented to the Federal High Court in Abuja. This development follows a one-month detention of Mr. Emefiele by the State Security Service (SSS), who was ordered by the court to either charge him or release him.

In the charges filed, the SSS accused Mr. Emefiele of possessing a single-barrel shotgun and 23 rounds of live ammunition without the required license, violating sections of the Firearms Act. Notably, these charges mark a downgrade from previous allegations of terrorism financing and economic sabotage levied against the former CBN governor by the SSS.

Criticism and Legal Proceedings:

Prominent human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, expressed disappointment in the charges, stating that the possession of firearms is typically a matter for the police. He criticized the SSS for its handling of the case, suggesting that their involvement seemed politically motivated rather than based on holding Mr. Emefiele accountable for mismanagement or other crimes.

Following his arrest on June 10, Mr. Emefiele’s lawyers and family members launched a fundamental human rights enforcement suit, demanding access to him in custody. The court subsequently ordered the SSS to grant lawyers access to the suspended CBN governor. In the final judgment, the court emphasized the importance of the rule of law and declared Mr. Emefiele’s continued detention without trial as a violation of his fundamental human rights.

Court Rulings and Public Reaction:

While the judge acknowledged an order from an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court authorizing the SSS to detain Mr. Emefiele for 14 days, another judge later declared the arrest and detention as illegal. This judgment was based on the argument that the SSS’s actions contravened a subsisting court order.

During his tenure as CBN governor, Mr. Emefiele faced criticism for implementing a controversial naira redesign policy, which led to difficulties for many Nigerians. President Bola Tinubu, who campaigned against Mr. Emefiele during the last presidential election, accused him of damaging Nigeria’s financial system.

Nigerians are closely observing the developments surrounding this case and the implications for the country’s financial sector.

Source: Premium Times