The federal government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been ordered to pay a fine of N100 million to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The order was issued by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday as a fine for unlawfully detention of the former apex bank boss.
Adeniyi declared the long detention of Emefiele for over five months by the Department of State Service (DSS) and EFCC as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
Also, the court ruled that the federal government and any of its agencies, are restricted from re-arresting, detaining and harassing Emefiele over any alleged offence without first obtaining a warrant of arrest from a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to the judge, the excuse by the federal government that Emefiele was being investigated for other alleged infractions was not tenable, adding that the order of detention obtained from a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse, Abuja lacked probative value.
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He further berated security agencies for first arresting and detaining suspect before investigation.
Meanwhile, a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has granted bail to Godwin Idei Kanu, one of the claimants to the Eze Aro stool of Arochukwu kingdom.
Godwin Idei Kanu was arranged on three charges of presenting himself as the Eze Aro of Arochukwu kingdom without the recognition of the state government.
Chief Magistrate Onwutuebe Madu granted bail to Kanu, setting the bail amount at 100 thousand naira with two surties in like sum.
The court adjourned the matter to February 2, 2024.
Following the ruling, Kanu’s Counsel, Jude Nwaokoro, informed the press that his client had been arraigned by the Abia State government through the Commissioner of Police.
Nwaokoro described the granting of bail to Godwin Idei Kanu as “democracy in action.”