[News] Court gives DSS one week to charge Emefiele or release him

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) to either charge the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to Court within the next one week or set him free.

Justice Muazu gave the order while delivering judgment in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele. The judge held that Emefiele hasn’t shown that his arrest and investigation is unlawful, but noted that it is within his right to get fair hearing. The judge added 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 added 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. The suspended CBN governor demanded a compensation of N5M as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.

He was suspended as CBN governor on June 9th 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 and he has been in their detention since then.