The Department of State Services’ attempts to summon, question, and charge the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, were rejected by the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court on Thursday.
When Justice M.A. Hassan, the presiding judge, was considering the Originating Motion, which the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership had brought before him to enforce Mr. Emefiele’s fundamental rights, he barred the secret police on the grounds that such a move would violate Emefiele’s rights.
The “Originating Motion” was filed against the “Attorney General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, and the Central Bank of Nigeria” in court documents obtained.
The State Security Service was prohibited by the presiding judge from harassing, humiliating, embarrassing, or detaining Mr. Emefiele any longer due to the baseless accusations of financing terrorism and dishonest business practices.
Regarding an earlier ruling by Justice J. T. Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, in the case FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022, the court rebuked the secret police and labeled any ongoing harassment, intimidation, threats, or restrictions on free movement as vindictive.
“It would constitute, abuse of right of office, surreptitious moves to arrest and humiliation of Mr. Godwin Emefiele over the trumped up allegations of terrorism financing and fraudulent practice’
“In light of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, the DSS acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Mr Emefiele in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of national security and the economy,” the court averred.
