Court Orders DSS To Charge Emefiele Within One Week Or Set Him Free
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Thursday ordered the Department of the State Services (DSS), to either charge the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele before a law Court within one week or release him.
The Court presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu, who gave the order while ruling on a on a fundamental human rights suit instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele, held that while the secret police has power to carry out its Constitutional duties of making arrest, detention of persons and ensuring prevention of internal crime, added however, that such duties must be carried out within the ambit of the law.
Justice Muazu further held that the arrest power of the DSS was not at large as the law stipulated conditions under which a Nigerian citizen must be held and for how long.
The suspended Governor of the CBN, Emefiele had dragged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Director General of the DSS and the Service and sought the enforcement of his fundamental human rights to freedom of movement and dignity to human life.
In the suit instituted on his behalf by his counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN, Emefiele had applied to the Court stating that his arrest and detention since June 10, 2023 without valid order of the Court should be voided and set aside and demanded compensation of N5Million as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
