Court Verdict Nullifying DSS Arrest Of Emefiele Rendered Charge Against Him Mere Academic Exercise – Lawyers

Renowned civil society group, Lawyers in Defence of Democracy, has hailed the Friday’s judgment of Hon. Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court setting aside, quashing, invalidating and nullifying the arrest, detention and interrogation of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

In a release by the group in Abuja shortly after the latest judgement was delivered on Friday, the Convener, Mr. Kingdom Okere Esq., called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dispel opinions that the detention of Mr. Emefiele was not political by directing the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately comply with and bring into effect the full orders of the Court.

The statement reads, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must show the world that the arrest and detention of Mr. Godwin Emefiele for over a month by the DSS is not political by directing the Director General of the DSS to immediately comply and bring into full effect the orders of Justice Bello Kawu so as to dispel the already popular opinion that the arrest and detention were more for political reasons than any other thing.”

Mr. Okere recalled that on the day of the arrest of Mr. Emefiele, the group had issued a statement where it questioned the validity of the arrest of Mr. Emefiele by the DSS in view of the subsisting judgment of Justice M. A. Hassan asking the DSS to release him since their action was unlawful.

He expressed relief that the group had now been vindicated by the latest judgment of the FCT Court.

The Human Rights lawyer also urged President Tinubu to endeavour not to allow himself to be distracted by those whose intention it is to ensure he picks a fight with all his political opponents, noting that having been a victim of political persecution himself, he must ensure that his government never persecute any person either directly or indirectly.

He concluded the statement by calling on the President to concentrate on the failing economy of the country which is seeing the Naira lose value almost on daily basis.

“Since the 9th of June that President Tinubu suspended Mr. Emefiele, the Naira has been on a free fall though the government claims it has floated the currency. The Pound Sterling which exchanged for about N930 before Mr. Emefiele left office now exchanges for over N1,035 crossing the N1,000 mark for the first time in the country’s history. The focus of the President should be on the failing economy of the country and not on political vendetta,” Okere stated.