A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has directed the Department of State Services, DSS, to release suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor Godwin Emefiele or charge him to court within seven days.
The injunction was issued by Justice Hamza Muazu in a ruling on Emefiele’s fundamental rights enforcement petition, which challenged his incarceration by the DSS.
Emefiele had asked the court in an originating motion on notice to enforce his right to liberty and freedom of movement, claiming that his incarceration had no legal foundation.
However, the Attorney General of the Federation and the DSS had insisted that the detention of the suspended CBN Governor was lawful.
In the ruling, the court held that it was unlawful for the Federal Government to continue to detain Emefiele without charging him in court.
Reacting to the ruling, Counsel for the plaintiff and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Chief Joseph Daudu urged the federal government to obey the decision of the court in the interest of justice.
According to Chief Daudu, his client is expected to be released on Thursday on administrative bail.
RN
