Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is requesting his release from the Department of State Services’ (DSS) detention following his suspension and subsequent arrest.
Today, Thursday, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja will make a decision regarding its jurisdiction to hear Emefiele’s lawsuit challenging the DSS’s detention and arrest.
In the lawsuit before the court, the suspended CBN governor’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), claims that his human rights have been violated.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation; the Director General of the DSS and the DSS, who have filed preliminary objections, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case and urging that the suit be dismissed.
Recall that the DSS, through its counsel, I. Awo had on June 20 told Justice Hamza Muazu that Emefiele’s detention was lawful as the DSS had got an order from an FCT Chief Magistrates’Court to keep him in custody pending the conclusion of an investigation.
Tijjani Ghazali (SAN), the counsel for the AGF, argued that Emefiele’s arrest and incarceration by the DSS were administrative decisions made by the executive branch of government and asked the court to refrain from becoming involved.
Emefiele’s lawyer disagreed with them and insisted that the case had validity.
In order to decide whether or not he has the jurisdiction to hear the case and take into account Emefiele’s pleas, Justice Muazu adjourned the ruling till today.
Ada Peter
