Following an Abuja High Court order of on 13th July, 2023, that the Department of State Services (DSS), should charge suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele to court or release him, the Service has insisted that Emefiele was charged to court in June 2022.
The DSS, however, stated that 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.
Part of the statement by the DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya last night stated that 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.”
Earlier, Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday decried the long detention of Emefiele by the DSS.
The court ordered his immediate release from detention, if he cannot be charged to court within seven days.
The court gave the order while delivering ruling in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele.
Justice Muazu held that the DSS has power to carry out it’s constitutional duties of making arrest, detain and ensuring prevention of internal crime but however said that such duties must be carried out within the ambit of the law.
He said the arrest power of DSS was not at large as the law stipulated conditions under which a Nigerian citizen must be held and for how long.
Emefiele had dragged the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), director-general of DSS and the DSS seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to freedom of movement and dignity to human life.
