Our reporter/ The Department of State Services (DSS) has charged Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria to court.
The development is coming on the heels of Thursday’s order of an Abuja High Court that Emefiele be charged to court within one week or released by the secret police.
DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, who confirmed the development, said Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the court order.
The DSS spokesman, however, did not state the court where Emefiele was charged and did not state the allegations brought against the suspended bank chief before the undisclosed court.
“The public may recall that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation,” Afunanya said in a statement late Thursday.
“Though he (Emefiele) 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.”
Justice Hamza Muazu had earlier on Thursday issued the order while delivering ruling in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele.
The judge said Emefiele hasn’t shown that his arrest and investigation is unlawful, but noted that it is within his right to get fair hearing.
Justice Muazu further stated that the suspended CBN governor can’t remain in detention without a formal charge, adding also that the DSS can’t use the period of Emefiele’s detention to search for evidence against him.
The judge further held that the DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of making arrest, detain, and ensuring prevention of internal crime but however, said that such duties must be carried out within the law.
Emefiele had sued the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, Director General of the DSS, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to freedom of movement and dignity to human life.
In the suit, the suspended CBN Governor had applied that his arrest and detention since June 10 without valid order of court be voided and set aside.
Emefiele demanded a compensation of N5M as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
He was suspended as CBN governor on 9th June and arrested in the early hours of June 10 at his Ikoyi, Lagos home.
Shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended him, the DSS had on June 10 arrested the apex bank governor who has been in detention since then.
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