An advocacy group known as ‘The Truth – Nothing More, Nothing Else,’ has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure the release of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The group deems Emefiele’s prolonged detention as unnecessary and unacceptable, urging for his immediate release while the trial continues. A communique issued at the conclusion of its half-year conference held in Lagos on July 19, 2023, stressed the importance of upholding Emefiele’s civil rights, particularly the right to be charged to court within 48 hours of arrest.
Emefiele has been in detention for approximately 40 days, in contravention of his civil rights. ‘The Truth – Nothing More, Nothing Else’ asserts that Emefiele’s detention serves as a litmus test for the democratic credentials of Tinubu’s government.
Challenging the legality of Emefiele’s detention, he sought legal recourse, and on July 13, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Abuja High Court ruled that the DSS must either charge Emefiele to court within seven days or release him.
The judge emphasized that the charges against Emefiele are bailable, as they are not of a capital nature. Curiously, on the same day, Emefiele was charged in a Lagos High Court with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, which are not capital offences.
“We, therefore, advocate for his release on bail while the trial proceeds. If this matter truly concerns justice and the rule of law, his continued detention serves no meaningful purpose,” stated the group in the communique, jointly signed by its project coordinator, Zubairu Kanabe, and secretary, Moses Ibekwe.
Zubairu voiced concerns that Emefiele might have incurred the wrath of powerful figures due to President Buhari’s currency change in January of the current year. The currency change was purportedly aimed at curbing vote-buying among politicians.
However, it adversely affected all Nigerians, leading to suspicions of possible vendetta by those currently in power. Zubairu stressed the importance of transparency and the need for the President and Commander in Chief to intervene if the DSS is acting beyond its mandate.
Notable Nigerian individuals and institutions have also joined the call for Emefiele’s release from detention. Among them is Joseph Daudu, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, who directly appealed to President Tinubu to secure Emefiele’s release.
Daudu reminded the President of his days as a human rights activist in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), fighting against the military government’s arbitrary actions. He urged Tinubu not to replicate the same arbitrariness he once fought against during his time as a human rights activist.
