Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has issued an ultimatum to the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The judge ordered the DSS to either charge Emefiele to court or release him within one week.
The ruling came as a result of a fundamental human rights suit filed by Emefiele against the DSS and other parties. Justice Muazu acknowledged the DSS’s authority to carry out constitutional duties such as making arrests, detentions, and preventing internal crime. However, he emphasized that these duties must be executed in accordance with the law.
The judge stated that the DSS’s arrest powers have limitations and must adhere to the specified conditions regarding the detention of Nigerian citizens and the duration of such detentions.
Emefiele, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu, filed the lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Director General of the DSS, and the DSS itself. He sought the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, specifically freedom of movement and the preservation of his human dignity.
In his suit, Emefiele requested the court to nullify and set aside his arrest and detention since June 10, as no valid court order supported it. Furthermore, he demanded compensation of N5 million as exemplary damages for the alleged unlawful detention.
