A federal high court in Lagos State where ousted governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was arraigned for illegal possession of firearm has granted the prayers of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The court had reserved ruling earlier this week when the federal government orally applied to withdraw the two-count charge against the defendant.
Mr Emefiele, through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), opposed the application, urging the court not to grant the request while he is still being detained by the State Security Service (SSS) against a court order granting him bail.
In a ruling on Thursday, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, granted the request, wondering what good it will do to the defence if the court does not allow the withdrawal.
“The prosecution has shown that they are not law abiding and have no respect for the court,” the judge was quoted by Channels TV as saying. “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 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.”
Mr Emefiele who is facing a fresh twenty-count charge at a federal high court in Abuja has been arraigned before the court.
