JUST-IN: DSS Denies Arresting Suspended CBN Gov Emefiele

The Department of State Services (DSS), has said that the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is not in their custody.

Reacting to the news reports that the DSS had arrested Emefiele on Friday night shortly after he was suspended from office as the CBN governor, DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, said “currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS.”

Earlier on Friday while making enquiries about the embattled CBN governor from DSS, Afunanya had told LEADERSHIP that he was already “Inundated” and he “may not be able to make any confirmations NOW, please.”

Aside his suspension from office for investigations into some allegations as stated by President Bola Tinubu, the DSS earlier in the year, accused Emefiele of torrorism financing.

LEADERSHIP reported that Emefiele fraternised with a well-known terror financier, whose name was not disclosed.

The DSS said the suspended CBN governor was involved in the financing of terrorism and must answer for the alleged crime.

It said preliminary investigation revealed various acts of terrorism financing, fraudulent activities perpetrated by Emefiele and his involvement in economic crimes of national security dimension.

In the heat of the case, the DSS had tried to arrest Emefiele but a  Federal High Court in Maitama, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja issued an order restraining the secret Police from arresting Emefiele.

This ruling, delivered by Justice M.A. Hassan also applies to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the CBN, who are listed as defendants.

Earlier, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja declined an application filed by the DSS to arrest and detain Emefiele over the grave allegations against him.

In declining the motion ex parte filed by the secret police, Justice J. T. Tsoho, the Chief Judge, said the DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes.

When Emefiele returned to Nigeria after spending several weeks away, military personnel and intelligence officers were deployed to ensure that he was not arrested by the DSS.

The then CBN governor headed to his office after his return with massive security, specifically military protection.