A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), has described the rearrest of suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele by the Department of State Services (DSS) on grounds of terrorism as “void and laughable”.
The CSO wondered why the suspended CBN boss was re-arrested “after a court judgement has voided the terrorism allegations, barring them from arresting him.”
The secret police and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service clashed over the agency’s move to take custody of the suspended and embattled Apex Bank Chief after Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of the N20 million.
Eventually the operatives of the secret police took custody of Emefiele after the physical fight.
The organisation in a statement by its strategic communication consultant, Mr. Abubakar Isa, said, “it’s laughable that a supposed Intelligence agency, rearrested someone on claims of something that has already been ruled on by a competent court of law.”
The statement reads, “it’s laughable that a supposed Intelligence agency, rearrested Emefiele on claims of something that has already been ruled on by a competent court of law. Is the DSS now saying that the judiciary is wrong, incompetent and their judgement doesn’t matter so long as it doesn’t favour them?????
“Months ago Justice M. A. Hassan of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) restrained the Department of State Services (DSS) and four others from arresting or detaining Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing. The judge held that the DSS acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating President Muhammadu Buhari against Godwin Emefiele in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of the National Security and economy.
“Again recently a High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu ordered DSS to immediately release Emefiele, from detention or charge him to court. It’s clear that the secret police has a vendetta against Emefiele because despite several court rulings the operatives have refused to obey any and has continued to disrespect the judiciary. It’s a huge disgrace what happened at the federal high court Lagos yesterday. President Tinubu should not allow the DSS to tarnish his hard earned reputation as a world renowned democrat.”
