The Department of Government Services (DSS) has charged detaitaned suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to court.
The development follows the order of the Abuja High Court on Thursday July 13 2023 that asked the secret police to charge Emefiele in court within a week or release him.
Hours after the court’s verdict, a spokesman for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, said the embattled ex-CBN Governor had been charged in court by court order.
However, the spokesperson of the did not name the court in which he was charged and did not announce the charges against the suspended banker before the secret court.
Afunanya said in a statement late Thursday:
“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 (Emefiele) 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 secret police assured the public of professionalism, fairness, and fairness in the handling of the Emefiele’s case.
On Thursday, Earlier on Thursday, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja issued the one-week ultimatum based on the Fundamental Human Rights case that Emefiele brought against the DSS and others.
The suspended CBN Governor cannot continue in detention without formal charges being brought against him, Judge Muazu said, adding that the secret police cannot use Emefiele’s time in detention to obtain evidence against him.
Emefiele had filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Federation and DSS, seeking enforcement, demanding the implementation of the fundamental human rights to freedom of movement and the dignity of human life.
In the lawsuit, the arrested CBN governor asked to retract and rescind his arrest and detention since June 10 without a valid court order.
He also sought N5m in damages to set an example for his alleged illegal detention.
On Friday, 9 June 2023, President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele as the governor of the apex bank and ordered the Deputy Governor of Operations, Folashodun Shonubi to occupy in his post as in an acting capacity.
The next day, the DSS confirmed that Emefiele was in their custody. Since then, the arrested apex bank chief and has remained in the custody of the secret police
