Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been charged to court on Thursday by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Recall that Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few days after assuming office.
He ordered a probe of the apex bank under Emefiele’s watch.
The DSS trailed the CBN governor who had been suspended to Lagos, where he was apprehended and sent to Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, however, issued an order to the secret police on Thursday morning directing them to either release or bring Emefiele to court.
The court gave the order when it sat on the case in its jurisdiction to hear the suit filed by Emefiele challenging his arrest and detention by the DSS. According to the court, the DSS should charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him on administrative bail.
Justice H. Muazu, who gave the order, also held that the FCT High Court has original jurisdiction to preside over issues bordering on fundamental human rights.
In a swift reaction, however, the DSS through its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said: “Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, 13th July, 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the Order.
“The public may recall that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation. Though he obtained a restraining order from an FCT High Court, the Service, however, arrested him in June, 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.
“The Service assures the public of professionalism, justice and fairness in handling this matter and indeed the discharge of its duties within the confines of the law.”
Ada Peter
