Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court has nullified the arrest, detention and interrogation of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele by the Department of State Services (DSS).
This judgement is coming barely 24 hours after Justice M. A. Hassan also of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja ordered Emefiele’s release or prosecution in suit No. FCT/HC/GAR/CV/41/2022.
Justice Kawu, gave the ruling on Friday, adding that the arrest, detention and interrogation of Emefiele violates the subsisting judgment and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan in Suit No. FCT/HC/GAR/CV/41/2022.
He also directed the setting aside, voiding, quashing, invalidating and nullifying any warrant of arrest obtained or procured by the respondents, especially the DSS for the arrest, detention and/or interrogation of Emefiele in connection with the allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, round tripping, threat to national security before or from any court since the date of the judgment of Justice M. A. Hassan.
The court also directed Emefiele’s release from DSS custody.
Emefiele’s Counsel said apart from the release of his client, Nigerians should celebrate Nigerian judges despite several acts of intimidation by security agencies and the some unfavourable conditions under which they work are bold to dispense justice not minding whose ox is gored.
He told the DSS to immediately release his client so that he can go and look after his failing health aggravated by the over one month of illegal and unlawful arrest and detention.
In a judgment upon an Originating Motion on Notice brought before the Court by Emefiele, against Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector General of Police, State Security Service (SSS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria, the presiding judge held that the arrest, detention and interrogation of Emefiele were in violation of the subsisting judgment and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan in Suit No. FCT/HC/GAR/CV/41/2022.
Emefiele through his Counsel, Peter Abang, had asked the court to set aside, quash, invalidate and nullify the arrest and detention of the Applicant for being illegal and a nullity in view of the subsisting judgment of Justice M. A. Hassan delivered on December 29, 2022.