Court dismisses DSS suit seeking to keep Emefiele in detention

 

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has dismissed a request filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking a 14-day extended detention order for the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The application was filed by the legal team of the DSS on Wednesday and was presented before Justice Hamza Muazu today (Thursday).

The DSS said the application is based on new evidence it had discovered.

However, Justice Muazu dismissed the application, citing it as an abuse of the court process and identifying the lack of jurisdiction.

Upon questioning by the judge about the court’s jurisdiction, given the exclusive rights of the Magistrate Court to grant detention orders under Sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the DSS’s counsel, Victor Ejelonu, decided to withdraw the matter.

The application came as a result of Emefiele’s re-arrest by the DSS from the Federal High Court premises in Lagos, following his remand in a Correctional Centre while awaiting the fulfilment of his bail conditions granted by Justice Nicholas Oweibo.

Emefiele was suspended as CBN Governor on June 9, 2023 , which came just one day after, the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that he was in their custody.

After several legal battles by Emefiele’s counsel who challenged his prolonged detention by the DSS announced that he has been charged to court, Emefiele was brought to court by DSS operatives on Tuesday.