Court prevents DSS, others from detaining Emefiele

Court prevents DSS, others from detaining Emefiele

The State Security Service and other security forces are prohibited by an Abuja High Court from detaining or arresting Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, over alleged made-up charges relating to financing terrorism.

In a case with the filing number FCT/HC/CV/GAR/41/2022, Justice Hasan responded to a request made by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership, a civil society group.

Justices A.H. Hassan also prohibited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), from pursuing any action against Emefiele in his decision.

The exparte application was moved by counsel to the applicant, Emeka Ozoani (SAN), asking the court to restrain the respondents “whether by themselves, their officers, agents, servants, privies or acting through any person or persons howsoever from inviting, arresting and/or detaining the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele with particular allegations of acts of terrorism financing, fraudulent activities, or any other manner, howsoever, that may interfere with his rights to freedom of movement, personal liberty, human dignity or in any way interfere with the performance and discharge of his official functions and duties as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The DSS had earlier requested an order to arrest the CBN governor in an exparte application with the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022 due to allegations of supporting terrorism, engaging in fraud, and committing economic crimes with a bearing on national security. But on December 9, Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, dismissed the motion on the grounds that the DSS had not presented enough proof to support the issuing of an arrest warrant for the CBN governor.