Let EFCC Investigate Emefiele- Femi Falana Tells DSS
Nigeria Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conduct a proper investigation on the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
On Saturday, news of Emefiele’s arrest in Lagos broke after he was suspended by President Tinubu.
Mr. Falana, in a statement on Sunday, however, stated that “the SSS lacks the power to investigate and prosecute Mr. Emefiele in respect of allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes”, and also advised the DSS to transfer Emefiele to the EFCC to prevent the case from being bungled by the SSS.
He said:
“A few months ago, the State Security Service (SSS) levelled grave allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and other economic crimes against Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). At the material time, the attempt by the SSS to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Mr Emefiele was frustrated by the erstwhile Buhari administration.”
“However, following the suspension of Mr Emefiele as the Governor of the CBN by President Bola Tinubu, the SSS quizzed him in Lagos and flew him to Abuja yesterday. According to media reports, the investigation of the suspect by the SSS has commenced. Even though the SSS, which initially denied the arrest, has since turned around to admit that Mr Emefiele is in its custody.
“In the case of Dr Bukola Saraki v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018) 16 NWLR (pt. 1646) 433-434, the supreme court ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lacks the vires to investigate and prosecute the appellant for the breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. It was for that principal reason that Senator Saraki was freed by the apex court.
“In line with the principle of law enunciated by the apex court in Saraki’s case, the SSS lacks the power to investigate and prosecute Mr Emefiele in respect of allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes. Therefore, after investigating the alleged involvement of Mr Emefiele in terrorism financing, should transfer him to the EFCC for the purpose of investigating the allegations of money laundering and allied offences. Otherwise, the investigation of the case will be bungled by the SSS!” Falana said.
Follow us for more stories…
Author
