The Department of Security Services (DSS) says it has charged Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to court.
The development followed a 7- day ultimatum slammed at the DSS by an Abuja High Court on Thursday.
The court sitting in Maitama gave the DSS 7 days within which to charge Emefiele to court or release him.
However, the Secret police chose the former.
Spokesman for the DSS, Peter Afunanya said that Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the court order.
Emefiele has been in the DSS custody since June 9,2023 soon after he was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu.
The suspended CBN governor is alleged to have committed offences bordering on breach of trust, economic sabotage terrorism financing and financial misconduct.
Emefiele had sued the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation ( OAGF)and the Department of State Services, (DSS) for arresting and detaining him in a commando style, alleging the agencies were carrying out a political witch-hunt against him due to his “people-oriented financial policies which several political actors are not comfortable with and are now looking for any means to scandalize and smear his image and reputation.”
Emefiele through his lead counsel,J. B Daudu SAN had filed an application requesting for his release stating that his arrest and detention in DSS facility violated his fundamental human rights.
He prayed the court to order his immediate and unconditional release or grant him bail while also seeking a restraining order and N5billiion cost against the defendants.
But the,AGF and DSS denied Emefiele’s claims of political witch-hunt.
The DSS In its counter affidavit filed by its counsel, I. Awo, said “the applicant was arrested upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimensions, and undermining the security of Nigeria.”
The counsel argued that upon the arrest of the applicant, a detention order was obtained from a Magistrate court to enable the agency to keep him in lawful custody for 14 days having discovered that investigations into his office will take a little while to conclude.
Awo said Emefiele was flown to Abuja through a private jet and not in a commando style.
In a similar prayer,the OAGF’s legal team urged the court to decline jurisdiction on Emefiele’s request for release, adding that only the Federal High Court can determine it.
It added that Emefiele having been suspended, was not immune to arrest or investigation as ordered by the president.
Delivering his verdict on Thursday, Justice H. Muazu held that the respondents complied with relevant laws by obtaining an order from the Magistrate court before arresting Emefiele.
He said that a subsisting order of the court cited by Emefiele does not grant the applicant immunity from any arrest, adding he has not shown that his arrest and detention was unlawful.
The judge however held that the applicant is entitled to right to fair hearing and the continued detention of the suspended CBN governor cannot continue when there is no formal charge against him.
He said “Justice demands that the applicant be released on administrative bail,”
“I hereby make an order that the respondents within one week charge the applicant to court or release him on bail,”
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