BREAKING: Court nullifies Emefiele’s arrest, detention

Akinwande Soji-Ojo

A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has nullified the arrest and detention of suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Bello Kawu invalidated Emefiele’s arrest and detention while ruling on an application filed by Emefiele, on Friday.

On June 9, President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele from office and asked him to transfer his responsibilities to Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, the apex bank’s deputy governor in charge of operations directorate.

On june 10, the Department of State Services (DSS) announced that Emefiele was in its custody for “some investigative reasons.”

Emefiele has been in DSS custody since then, with the service insisting that it obtained a valid court order to keep him.

Ruling on a motion on notice brought before the court by Emefiele, against Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector General of Police, DSS and Central Bank of Nigeria, the the judge held that the arrest, detention and interrogation of Emefiele were in violation of the subsisting judgement and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan.

Emefiele had through his Counsel, Peter Abang, asked the court to set aside, quash, invalidate and nullify his arrest and detention for being illegal and a nullity in view of the subsisting judgement of Justice M. A. Hassan delivered on December 29, 2022.

In his judgement, Justice Kawu, held that the arrest, detention and interrogation of Emefiele was in violation of the subsisting judgement.

He also set aside any warrant of arrest obtained or procured by the respondents, especially the DSS for the arrest, detention and/or interrogation of Emefiele in connection with the allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, round tripping, threat to national security before or from any court since the date Justice M. A. Hassan delivered his judgement.

The court also ordered Emefiele’s release from DSS custody.

Reacting, counsel to Emefiele, Abang, told journalists that beyond the release of his client, Nigerians must celebrate the fact that judges, despite several acts of intimidation by security agencies and some unfavourable conditions under which they work, are bold to dispense justice, not minding whose ox is gored.

He called on the DSS to comply with the orders of the court and release his client so that he can go and look after his failing health aggravated by over one month of “illegal and unlawful arrest and detention.”