There was pandemonium at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday following an attempt by the State Security Service (SSS) to arrest former governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele.

Mr Emefiele was charged by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation under the Ministry of Justice.

He is standing trial before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.

The court had adjourned the case until November 14 for trial and had ordered a remand of the defendant in the correctional service pending the perfection of his bail.

Meanwhile, after the case was adjourned, the defendant remained in the courtroom for several hours after the case ended.

The environment of the court was filled with armed men of the SSS, who were seen waiting with guns at the entrance to the courtroom where the defendant was arraigned.

Meanwhile, when a top official of the Nigerian Correctional Centre made an attempt to take the defendant into the custody of the correctional service as ordered by the court, officials of the SSS resisted the move.

Officials of the SSS were seen pushing him off and ordering all journalists to move out of the vicinity while brandishing their guns.

All visitors to the court were seen running for safety.

At the time of this report, the defendant is still inside the courtroom, and it is unclear what the situation will be going forward.

(NAN)