By Adedapo Adesanya
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, over his failure to appear in court to explain the circumstances surrounding the $53 million judgement debt arising from the Pars Club refund.
Justice Ekwo, who ordered Mr Emefiele to appear on the next adjourned date, said he was minded to exercise restraint in the proceeding to give the ex-CBN boss an opportunity to explain himself.
The development occurred following an intervention by the counsel to the detained Emefiele, Mr Audu Anuga, who prayed for the court to give his client another opportunity due to the fact that they had been unable to reach him since the last order, directing him to appear in court.
Mr Anuga told the court that Mr Emefiele, who was suspended as CBN governor, had been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). He added that all efforts to reach him to communicate the directive of the court to him were unsuccessful.
Justice Ekwo, on October 20, 2022, ordered the CBN governor to appear in court on January 18 over his alleged refusal to obey the order of the court for the payment of the judgement debt in favour of a legal practitioner, Mr Joe Agi.
Mr Agi had taken Linas International Ltd, the ex-Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the CBN and Mr Emefiele to court as 1st to 4th judgement debtors, respectively, following an application for garnishee made by him as judgement creditor in the case.
Last week, the federal Government filed a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against the suspended CBN Governor before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The FG, in the charge sheet, accused Mr Emefiele of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence.
The government maintained that the offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor was accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
The case has been assigned to Justice Nicholas Oweibo, who is one of two vacation judges for the court. The other is Justice Akintayo Aluko.
Modupe Gbadeyanka