Godwin Emefiele

The arraignment of the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has been stalled at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, due to the strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

JUSUN directed its members to join the industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

NLC and TUC had declared the strike over an assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo State on November 1, 2023.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi had last week granted Emefiele bail.

He ordered that he should be released immediately to his lawyers, who are charged with the responsibility of producing him in court for his arraignment today (Wednesday) or on any other day.

The travails of the former CBN Governor started when President Bola Tinubu suspended him as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023.

A day after, the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that the embattled and suspended CBN Governor was in its custody.

After several legal fireworks by Emefiele’s counsel challenging his prolonged detention by the DSS, the secret police bowed to pressure on July 13, 2023, and announced that the suspended apex bank chief had been charged to court.

Emefiele was brought to a Lagos court by DSS operatives in a Hilux vehicle on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Appearing before Justice Oweibo, Emefiele, 61, pleaded “not guilty” to the two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal Government.

The DSS in August withdrew its charges against Emefiele.

The secret police freed the embattled ex-bank chief on October 26, just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained him the same day.

The EFCC had failed to produce Emefiele in court last Monday, but bowed to the court’s order and produced the former CBN chief court last Wednesday for the hearing of his bail application.

The judge granted Emefiele bail last week, and was expected to be in court today to take his plea before the arraignment was stalled due to the strike.