Indications that the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele may be in for a more legal hurdle emerged on Tuesday as the Federal Government served notice that he would be moved to Abuja to face a fresh 20 count charge as it intends to withdraw the illegal possession of firearm charge.

The suspended banker is currently in Lagos facing a two – count charge. But Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar, informed Justice Nicholas Oweibo that the fresh application followed the result of further investigations.

He, however, made his application orally.The Court will rule on this on August 27.

The judge had on July 25, admitted Emefiele to a N20million bail on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

But the Department of State Services (DSS) rearrested him after a clash with prison officials.

But defence counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), opposed him, arguing that because the government was in disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, its application should not be taken.

Speaking with journalists after the day’s proceedings, Mr. Abubakar said the fresh charges were filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

According to him,one of the counts accuses Emefiele of “conferring unlawful advantages”.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Mr. Emefiele on 9 June 2023 and ordered investigation into some allegations leveled against him.

President Tinubu later appointed a Special Investigator to probe CBN. Amid this probe, the apex bank released its audited financial statement, which showed that it is owing JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs a combined sum of $7.5 billion as of the financial year ended December 2022.