BREAKING: FCT High Court Bars DSS From Arresting, Inviting or Detaining Emefiele
- An FCT High Court has quashed the DSS alleged move to charge CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele with charges of terrorism
- The court barred the state secret police from arresting, inviting and detaining the apex bank chief in a landmark ruling
- The court ruled that attempts to charge Emefiele for terrorism is vindictive, void, abrasive, illegal and callous
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FCT, Abuja - A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has quashed the moves by the Department of State Security (DSS) to arrest Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele on allegations of terrorism financing and economic crimes.
In a judgment on Thursday, December 29, Justice M. A. Hassan restrained the DSS from further harassing, humiliating, embarrassing, threatening to incarcerate or detain Mr. Emefiele over the trumped up allegations of terrorism financing and fraudulent practices.
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Legit.ng gathered that the originating motion was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership to enforce the Fundamental rights of Mr. Emefiele.
The case was against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector General of Police, DSS and the CBN.
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The judgement further restrained the DSS and any person acting through them from inviting, arresting and/or detaining Emefiele in the guise of having committed any offence with respect to allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent activities etc.
It noted that there should be no interference with his rights to freedom of movement, personal liberty, human dignity or interfering with the tenure, functions and discharge of his duties as the CBN governor, except by an order of a superior court.
The court relying on the orders of the Federal High Court in Suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022 delivered by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice J. T. Tsoho lampooned the DSS and declared any continuous harassments of Emefiele as vindictive, unwarranted, abrasive and oppressive.
The court further said it constitutes a flagrant breach of his rights to personal liberty, dignity of the human person, right to policy making powers, freedom of thought, conscience and religion and movement as respectively provided and enshrined under the Constitution of Nigeria.
The judge further held that DSS acted illegally in instigating President Muhammadu Buhari against 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.
Timi Frank to DSS: Stop illegal plot to arrest CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele
Recall that Comrade Timi Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress had urged the DSS to halt their plot to arrest Emefiele.
Comrade Frank was reacting to allegations by the Coalition of United Political Parties in Abuja on Monday, December 19.
He also called on President Buhari to call the DSS and other officials to order not to intensify the already heightened security situation in the country.
Arewa youths supporting CBN cashless policy, withdrawal limits, says Shettima
Meanwhile, the national president of the Arewa Youths, Yerima Shettima, has declared that the group is backing the CBN cashless policy and the new withdrawal limits.
Shettima said his group decided to support the policy because it is for the people and will further fight off crimes.
He also dismissed the position of some Nigerians kicking against the policy, saying it is good for the nation.
Source: Legit.ng
