Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty to charges of illegal possession of firearms.
The Department of State Services (DSS) brought two counts against him, both related to alleged possession of firearms.
In the first count, Emefiele is accused of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a license, a violation of Section 4 of the Firearms Act, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
The second count accuses him of having 123 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a license, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
Meanwhile, a group called the Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society attended the court session and requested to hold a watching brief during Emefiele’s arraignment.
Represented by five senior lawyers, the group asserted that they are lawyers in defense of democracy. The court granted them permission to observe the proceedings.
The legal battle surrounding Emefiele’s alleged illegal possession of firearms continues as the case moves forward in the Federal High Court.
