APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) has said that the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has been charged to court, following order by an Abuja High Court.
The spokesman for the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that “Sequel to an Abuja High Court order today (yesterday), July 13, 2023, DSS, hereby confirms that Mr. Godwin Emefiele has been charged to court, in compliance.
“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 (Abuja) 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,” he said.
Earlier, yesterday, Justice Hamza Muazu had issued a one-week ultimatum to the DSS to charge Emefiele to court or set him free.
Muazu issued the order, while delivering ruling in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against DSS and others by Emefiele.
According to the report by Nigeria’s Guardian newspaper on Friday, the judge held that, while the DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of arrest, detention, and prevention of crime, the activities must be done within the ambit of law.
It added that the judge maintained that the law stipulates conditions under which a Nigerian citizen could be held, and for how long.
Emefiele had dragged Attorney General of the Federation and the DSS Director General to court, seeking enforcement of his fundamental right to freedom of movement and dignity of human life.
In the suit, Emefiele applied that his arrest and detention since June 10 without valid order of court be voided and set aside.
Emefiele also demanded a compensation of N5 million as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
GIK/APA
Nigeria’s suspended central bank governor charged to court
