A Federal Capital Territory High Court has given the Department of State Services (DSS) one week to either arraign the embattled governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele or free him.
The order was issued by Justice Hamza Muazu on Thursday in a suit filed by the suspended governor of the apex bank.
While the court ruled that the DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of making arrest, detention and ensuring prevention of internal crime, the judge added that such duties must be carried out within the ambit of the law.
He said that the arrest power of the DSS was not beyond the stipulated conditions under which a Nigerian citizen must be held and for how long.
Emefiele had dragged the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Director General DSS and DSS to court, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to freedom of movement and dignity to human life.
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In the suit, filed through his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), before the court, Emefiele is alleging a violation of his human rights.
He applied that his arrest and detention since June 10 without valid order of court be voided and set aside.
Emefiele demanded a compensation of N5M as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation; the Director General of the DSS and the DSS, who have filed preliminary objections, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case and urging that the suit be dismissed.
At the June 20 proceeding in the case, the DSS, through its counsel, I. Awo, told Justice Hamza Muazu that Emefiele’s detention was lawful as the DSS had got an order of an FCT Chief Magistrates’ Court to keep him in custody pending conclusion of investigation.
Details later…