An FCT High Court in Abuja on Thursday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Department of State Services (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 gave the order while ruling in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele.
The judge said Emefiele has not shown that his arrest and investigation is unlawful, but noted that it is within his right to get fair hearing.
Justice Muazu further stated that the suspended CBN governor can’t remain in detention without a formal charge, adding also that the DSS can’t use the period of Emefiele’s detention to search for evidence against him.
Justice Muazu held that the DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of making arrest, detain and ensuring prevention of internal crime but said that such duties must be carried out within the law.
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Also listed as respondent in the suit is the attorney general of the federation.
Emefiele asked the court to declare that his arrest and detention since June 10 without valid order of court was illegal.
He also demanded a compensation of N5million as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
President Bola Tinubu suspended him on June 9 and ordered an investigation into his activities.
