Joseph Daudu, lawyer to the suspended and detained Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has said his client’s case will test President Bola Tinubu’s respect for the rule of law.
The senior lawyer stated this on Thursday, shortly after the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja gave the Department of State Services (DSS) a seven-day ultimatum to either release Emefiele, who has been in detention since June 10, or arraign him in court if they have a case against him.
Justice Hamza Muazu gave the order while ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Emefiele, through Daudu, to challenge his arrest and continued detention by the DSS.
The judge held the continued detention of Emefiele by the secret police without trial amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
Addressing journalists after the proceedings, Dauda lauded the court for its courageous pronouncement, adding that he expected the DSS to obey the order.
He also called on the President to demonstrate to Nigerians that under his watch, government agencies would not be disobedient to lawful court orders.
He said, “Seven days has been given to the DSS to either charge him (Emefiele) to court or release him on administrative bail.
“We expect him to be released on administrative bail today (Thursday) as we speak in obedience to the court order.
“I don’t think that the President would like to start his administration with organisations under him disobeying court orders.
“He was at the forefront to chastise the military government for disobeying court orders. Now, power is in his hands, we will see if he will obey court orders.”
Meanwhile, the DSS has said the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had been charged to court.
Reacting in a statement by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the DSS said it had in 2022 applied for a court order to detain Emefiele but he got another order stopping the DSS from arresting him.
