A federal high court in Abuja has reportedly turned down a Department of State Services (DSS) plea to detain and arrest Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The secret police’s claims that Emefiele had committed money laundering and other economic crimes were not backed up by any concrete evidence, according to chief Justice, Justice JT Tsoho, who rejected an ex parte request made by an applicant in the respondent’s absence.
The judge reportedly stated that if there was any proof to support the charges, he should have been brought into confidence, according to sources at the high court who spoke to TheCable.
“The honourable judge also wondered why the name of the respondent was given simply as ‘Godwin Emefiele’ without a material disclosure that he is the same person as the CBN governor, a highly ranking public official who occupies an extremely sensitive position,”
The court ruled that because to the serious economic repercussions that would result from the arrest and detention of the CBN governor, such a request should have been supported by presidential permission.
Given the potential impact the naira redesign and cash withdrawal cap may have on vote-buying in the 2023 elections, it has been suggested that the attempt to arrest Emefiele may have political motivations.
Several politicians have claimed that the redesign of the naira is aimed at them, but President Muhammadu Buhari has given Emefiele his full support for the initiative.
A number of civil society organizations alerted the public about a conspiracy to depose Emefiele and accuse him of terrorism on Monday.
DON’T BE USED TO UNDERMINE OUR INVESTIGATIONS, DSS WARNS
Nigerians have been cautioned by the DSS not to “undermine” its investigations.
DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya said in a statement that the agency will not be sidetracked by anyone looking to use “propaganda” to obstruct its legitimate investigations.
According to Afunanya, the DSS’s responsibility is to “investigation of matters of national security dimension. It has always discharged this responsibility in the overall interest of Nigerian citizens”.
“As such, the Service will continue to disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment,” the statement reads.
“While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased. It will not, by any means, succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it.
“It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.
“Given not to join issues, the Service warns those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions. Similarly, 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 destabilisation.
“Notably, these elements should remember the famous axiom that ‘you will only deceive some people, some of the time, but not all people, all the time’.
“To put it succinctly, the Service will not be distracted by persons and/or groups from carrying out its duties to the Nation, citizens, and, President and Commander-in-Chief.”
“avoid being used to thwart or undermine the Service and its lawful investigations as those who wish to act in the breach will be dealt with in accordance with the law”. Afunanya urged Nigerians
