Court Imposes N100m Fine on FG For Violating Emefiele’s Rights
The Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday slammed the federal government with a N100m fine as damages in favour of the suspended former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele for the violations of his rights.
The Judge, Adeniyi Olukayode made the order after he declared the detention of Emefiele for over five months by the Department of State Services (DSS) and EFCC as illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
The embattled Emefiele had dragged the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and EFCC to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement.
Emefiele sought a declaration from the court that his continued detention by the agency of the first and second respondents since June 10, 2023, and subsequent transfer to the custody of the third and fourth respondents on October 26, 2023, without being arraigned in court is unlawful.
It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had on June 9, suspended Emefiele from office as the head of the apex bank.
He was later arrested at his Lagos residence by DSS operatives.
Emefiele had since then, faced a two-count charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition before the Federal High Court in Lagos, as well as another corruption charge that FG entered against him before the Abuja High Court.
However, the judge pointed out that the excuse made by the Federal Government that Emefiele was being investigated for other alleged infractions was not tenable, adding that the order of detention obtained from a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse, Abuja lacked probative value.
Justice Adeniyi further barred the Federal Government and any of its agencies, notwithstanding Emefiele’s current trial, from rearresting, detaining, and harassing him over any alleged offense without first obtaining a warrant of arrest from a court of competent jurisdiction.
He also berated security agencies for first arresting and detaining suspects before investigation.
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