Justice Hamza of the federal High court, (Abuja) has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to arraign the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele within seven days or release him.
The judge gave the order on Thursday, while ruling on a fundamental Rights suit over Emefiele’s detention without a formal charge.
Recall that Emefiele through his counsel, led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) had approached the court to challenge his detention since June 9, in a suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/6450/23.
The court held that the continued detention of suspended CBN in DSS custody, amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
Justice Muazu said, “Detention, no matter how small can amount to a breach of fundamental rights, noting that the DSS has the constitutional rights to carryout its duties, but, insisted that it must be done within the ambit of the laws.
Since allegations against Emefiele is a bailable offences, the DSS ought to grant him administrative bail, pending his prosecution, he said.
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