Emefiele pleads not guilty to gun possession charge
The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, pleaded not guilty to a charge of illegal possession of firearms on Tuesday.
Emefiele was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos on two counts of illegal possession of firearms. The prosecution alleged that Emefiele was found in possession of two pump-action guns without a valid license on February 25, 2023.
Emefiele's lawyer, Femi Falana, told the court that his client was not aware that he needed a license to own the guns. He said that Emefiele had inherited the guns from his father.
The judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the case to August 15, 2023 for trial.
Emefiele is a controversial figure in Nigeria. He was appointed CBN governor by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2014. He was reappointed for a second term in 2019.
Emefiele has been criticized for his handling of the economy. He has also been accused of being close to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Emefiele's case is the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving illegal possession of firearms in Nigeria. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile shootings in Nigeria, including the killing of a police officer in Abuja in 2022.
