CBN: Why Court Cannot Force DSS To Release Emefiele- Judge

A federal High Court judge, Nicholas Oweibo has slammed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for being lawless by disobeying court orders.

The judge spoke in Lagos on Thursday while striking out the case of illegal possession of firearms against suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The court struck out the case after the federal government said it will no longer proceed with it.

Emefiele has since been charged on a 20-count charge bordering on procurement abuse while he was CBN boss.

On Thursday, his arraignment by the DSS was stalled after a co-accused, Saadat Yaro failed to show up during their arraignment at an Abuja High court.

While striking out the case of illegal firearm possession against Emefiele, Justice Uweibo chided the federal government for not being law-abiding and disrespecting the court.

Recall that the judge had last month granted a 20 million bail to Emefiele, but the DSS who has held him for over two months following his removal from office by President Tinubu on June 9, refused to obey the order.

The former CBN Governor has been in the custody of the DSS since June 9.

Ruling yesterday on the application by the DSS for the illegal firearm possession to be struck out, Justice Oweibo said doing so will not make any difference in the case of Emefiele who is still being held by the DSS against a subsisting court order.

The Judge Slammed FG: “The prosecution has shown signs that they are not law-abiding and have no respect for the court.

“The court cannot force them. What good will it be for the defendant who is in custody?

“Of what benefit will it be to keep the file in the court’s docket?

“I believe the proper thing is to allow them to withdraw the charge. They can simply abandon it and the court will still have to strike it out for lack of diligent prosecution. The application to withdraw is hereby granted.”

Meanwhile, the embattled CBN governor could not be arraigned in court yesterday following the absence in court of his co-accused, Sa’adatu Yaro, on a fresh 20-count charge bordering on procurement fraud.

Emefiele has been charged by the DSS  over N6.9 billion procurement fraud, conspiracy, and conferring corrupt advantages on his associates, including Yaro alongside, and her company, April 1616 Investment Limited.