Breaking: FG gets Court approval to drop illegal firearm charge against Emefiele
The Federal Government is now free to drop the “illegal possession of firearm and possession” accusation against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, according to the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In his decision, Justice Nicholas Oweibo stated that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was authorized to withdraw the charge under Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and that there was no requirement that the application be in writing.
The judge questioned what good it would do to the defense if the court did not permit the withdrawal of the charge.
Justice Oweibo said, “The prosecution has shown 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 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.”