Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has issued a one week ultimatum to the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) to either charge the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to Court or set him free.
He gave the order in his ruling in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the bank boss, who was arrested on June 10, 2023.
He was suspended as CBN governor on 9th June and arrested in the early hours of June 10 at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence.
Shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended him, the DSS had on June 10 arrested the apex bank governor who has been in detention since then.
The judge said Emefiele hasn’t shown that his arrest and investigation is unlawful, but noted that it is within his right to get fair hearing.
The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Hamza Muazu, held that Emefiele’s continued detention without trial, amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
Justice Muazu held that the DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of making arrest, detain and ensuring prevention of internal crime but however said that such duties must be carried out within the law.
Emefiele had sued the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, Director General of the DSS, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to freedom of movement and dignity to human life.
In the suit, the suspended CBN Governor had applied that his arrest and detention since June 10 without valid order of court be voided and set aside.
The suspended CBN boss demanded a compensation of N5M as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
