The Federal High Court on Tuesday granted leave to the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to serve the Director General (DG), the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, by substituted means, the order of the court admitting him to bail and directing his remand in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
The leave was granted by Justice Nicholas Oweibo consequent upon an ex-parte application moved by the suspended CBN governor’s lawyer, Mrs. Ogonnaya Sonuga.
It would be recalled that the court had on July 25, 2023, granted Emefiele N20 million bail and ordered that he should be remanded at the NCS after he was brought before the court on a two-counts-charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Specifically, the charge borders on the alleged possession of a single barrel short gun as well as possession of 123 rounds of live ammunition without license.
Nonetheless, Emefiele had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However, shortly after he was granted bail, the DSS rearrested him within the premises of the court.
Emefiele in his ex-parte application dated July 28, 2023, prayed the court for “an order of this honorable court granting leave to the defendant/applicant to serve the complainant through and on the office and person of the Director General, Department of State Services, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, with the ruling/order of court obtained on the 25th day of July 2023, admitting the defendant/ applicant to bail and directing his remand in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, by substituted means to wit: by publishing same in three national daily newspapers circulating within the jurisdiction of this honorable court and which said service will be deemed as good and proper service on the prosecutor/complainant herein.
“And for such orders and further orders as this honorable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”
The prayers were consequently granted by the judge.
According to a 15-paragraph affidavit in support of the application, deposed to by Adeogun Ayodele Samuel from the law firm of Victor Opara (SAN), he argued that the court had on July 25 ordered that the defendant be remanded at the NCS pending the perfection of the defendant’s bail.
Samuel further stated that despite the order granting bail to the defendant on July 25, 2023, the DSS rearrested and whisked the defendant/applicant away from the premises of the court.
By the actions exhibited by the DSS on July 25, 2023, according to the deponent, it would be practically impossible to serve the DSS personally.