The Department of State Services (DSS) said on Thursday that it had charged the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to court.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Emefiele a few days after assuming office.
He ordered a probe of the apex bank under Emefiele’s watch.
The Editor Nigeria learnt that the DSS trailed the suspended CBN governor to Lagos, where he was arrested and flown to Abuja.
However, on Thursday morning, the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, ordered the secret police to release or charge 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.”
