After face-off with prison officials, DSS rearrests Emefiele despite bail

The Department of State services (DSS) has rearrested Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The operatives of the secret police took custody of Emefiele after a physical fight with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

TheCable had earlier reported that the DSS operatives had a face-off with prison officials over the custody of Emefiele.

The fight occurred in front of Nicholas Oweibo’s courtroom at the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Shortly after the brawl, the prison officials left the premises of the court.

Earlier on Tuesday, the court had granted bail to Emefiele in the sum of N20 million.

In a ruling, Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge, said the charges against Emefiele are bailable.

The bail was granted with one surety in like sum.

Earlier, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge bordering on alleged illegal possession of firearms.

The federal government had accused Emefiele of having in his possession, 123 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a licence.

COURT REJECTS FG’S OBJECTION TO BAIL APPLICATION

After Emefiele took his plea, his counsels, led by Joseph Daodu, a senior advocate of Nigeria, informed the court of a bail application.

Daodu prayed that the court should grant bail to his client on self-recognisance or on other liberal terms, pending the hearing and determination of the trial.

“There is no counter affidavit from the federal government, this is an unopposed application. He is a renowned banker and can only stay at his house. He can’t travel anywhere,” Daodu said.

But Nkiru Nebo-Jones, a deputy director of prosecution at the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), opposed the bail application, saying she has not seen a copy of the document.

Daodu said the office of the AGF was served the document of the bail application, adding that the proof of service endorsed by the AGF’s office was in the court’s file.