The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Department of the State Security Service, DSS, to either charge the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, to Court, or set him free.
Justice Hamza Muazu issued the order on Thursday while delivering a ruling in a Fundamental Human Rights Suit, instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele.
Justice Muazu held that the DSS has the power to carry out its constitutional duties of making arrests, detaining people, and ensuring the prevention of internal crime, but said that such duties must be carried out within the ambit of the law.
He said that the arrest power of the DSS was not at large, as the law 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 seek enforcement of his fundamental human rights, to freedom of movement, and dignity in human life.
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In the suit instituted on his behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Joseph Daudu, the suspended CBN Governor had applied that his arrest and detention since June 10, without a valid order of the court be voided and set aside.
Emefiele demanded N5 million as exemplary damages, for his alleged unlawful detention.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
