A Federal High Court in Abuja has intervened in the planned arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, over alleged terrorism financing terrorism and economic crimes of national security.
Justice J.T Tsoho gave the ruling declining the application for the governor’s arrest on December 9, 2022.
The suit with reference no. FHC/Abj/CS/2255/2022, had DSS as the applicant.
The judge said, “In the light of the foregoing reasons, I decline to grant this application ex parte. If the applicant believes that the evidence available to it so far is sufficient, then it can as well arrest and detain the applicant even without the order of the court.
“If however, the applicant desires to still pursue this application, then it should place the respondent on notice considering the sensitive public office that he occupies.”
A coalition of human rights organizations, the Arewa Youth Consultative Movement, and public interest lawyers, operating under the aegis of the Coalition of National Interest Defenders, expressed concern on Monday over a plot by the Department of State Service to remove the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for allegedly financing terrorism.
They claimed the plan to sack the CBN governor was orchestrated by politicians who were not comfortable with the economic reform policy of the apex bank, especially the designation of the Naira.
In its reaction on Monday, the DSS boldly came out that it “would not join issues with those protesting the suit filed against the CBN governor”, saying they are on a wild goose chase.
The spokesman for the secret police, Dr Peter Afunanya, said the agency remain “focused and unbiased and would not succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it.”
A statement obtained by Persecondnews said:“While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to.
“It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.
“The service warns those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions.
“It urges members of the public to disregard the vituperations and rantings of misguided elements and not allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilization.”
