The Department of State Services’ attempts to summon, question, and prosecute Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was rejected on Thursday by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice M.A. Hassan, the presiding judge, barred the secret police on the grounds that such a move would violate Emefiele’s rights while he was considering the Originating Motion, which the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership had brought before him to enforce Mr Emefiele’s fundamental rights.
The “Originating Motion” was filed in court papers that were made available to reporters and was directed at the “Attorney General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, and the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Additionally, the State Security Service was prohibited by the presiding judge from harassing, humiliating, embarrassing, or threatening to imprison or detain Mr Emefiele based on unsubstantiated accusations of financing terrorism and dishonest business practices.
According to the court’s earlier ruling in Suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022, which was delivered by Justice J. T. Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the secret police were savaged and any continuing harassment, intimidation, threats, or restrictions on free movement were labelled as vindictive by the court.
According to the court, “It would constitute, abuse of the right of office, surreptitious moves to arrest and humiliation of Mr Godwin Emefiele over the trumped up allegations of terrorism financing and fraudulent practice.
“In light of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, the DSS acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Mr Emefiele in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of national security and the economy.”