The Department of State Services (DSS), Thursday, said it has charged the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwim Emefiele, to court.
Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had earlier in the day ordered the DSS to charge Emefiele to court if they had criminal allegations against him within one week or release him on bail.
The CBN governor was suspended on June 9 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who asked him to transfer his responsibilities to the Deputy Governor Operations Directorate, Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi.
The Service subsequently announced his arrest and detention. However, the ousted apex bank boss, through his lawyer, Joseph Daudu, dragged the DSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to court, seeking an enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
Ruling on the matter, Mauazu said: “At this point, the continued detention of the applicant cannot be justified in the absence of any charge against him.
“At the very least, justice demands that applicant should be released on administrative bail.
“Consequently, I hereby make an order, directing the respondents to within one week, charge the applicant to court or release him on administrative bail.”
In a swift reaction, the DSS, in a press statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, disclosed that, “Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, July 13, 2023, the 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.”
