A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the arrest, detention and interrogation of suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. The court also ordered his release from custody.
The court order comes as it emerged that the Departent of State Services (DSS) may have charged the embattled banker to court for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, hours after a court in Abuja gave the secret police seven days to take him to court or release him.
Ruling in Abuja on Friday, Justice Bello Kawu declared that the arrest, detention and interrogation of Emefiele were in violation of the subsisting judgment and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan in Suit No. FCT/HC/GAR/CV/41/2022.
Peter Abang, representing the embattled banker, had asked the court to set aside, quash, invalidate and nullify the arrest and detention of the Applicant for being illegal and a nullity in view of the subsisting judgment of Justice M. A. Hassan delivered on December 29, 2022.
Justice Kawu also made an order setting aside, voiding, quashing, invalidating and nullifying any warrant of arrest obtained or procured by the respondents, especially the DSS for the arrest, detention and/or interrogation of Mr. Emefiele in connection with the allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, round tripping, threat to national security before or from any court since the date of the judgment of Justice M. A. Hassan.
Abang told journalists that beyond the release of his client, that Nigerians must celebrate the fact that Nigerian judges despite several acts of intimidation by security agencies and the some unfavourable conditions under which they work are bold to dispense justice not minding whose ox is gored.
He called on the DSS to comply with the orders of the court and release his client so that he can go and look after his failing health aggravated by over one month of illegal and unlawful arrest and detention.