A dramatic scene unfolded earlier today at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, as officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) and prison officials engaged in a heated dispute over the custody of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
The court had granted Mr. Emefiele bail in the sum of N20 million and required one surety of the same amount for his release pending trial. However, tensions escalated when DSS operatives insisted on taking custody of the suspended CBN governor, while prison officials argued that he should be held in their custody as per the court’s ruling.
The dispute drew attention from onlookers and legal practitioners present at the courthouse, creating a tense and chaotic atmosphere.
The presiding judge, Justice Williams, had to intervene to resolve the custody dispute. After careful deliberations, she ordered that Mr. Emefiele should be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Prison Service, in line with the court’s decision.
The suspended CBN governor’s legal team expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, while the DSS officers reluctantly handed over custody of Mr. Emefiele to the prison officials.
Mr. Emefiele was initially arrested by the DSS and had been in their custody for over a month before today’s court appearance. The charges against him pertain to the illegal possession of firearms, an accusation he had pleaded not guilty to during the court proceedings.
As the case continues, the nation awaits further developments in what has become a high-profile legal battle involving the former head of the country’s apex bank.
