By Emmanuel Nduka
A ruling by Justice Maryam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja has quashed the move by the Department of State Services (DSS) to charge the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele with terrorism and economic crimes of national security.
In her judgement, Justice Hassan also barred the DSS from arresting, inviting, or detaining Emefiele, declaring the terrorism allegations against the CBN governor by the DSS as vindictive, callous, oppressive, void and of no effect. Justice Hassan also restrained the DSS from further harassing or threatening to detain him.
The originating summons was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership to enforce the fundamental rights of Emefiele.
Earlier in December, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho declined an application by the DSS to arrest and detain Emefiele.
Justice Tsoho, while declining the motion ex-parte filed by an applicant in the absence of the respondent, said the DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate that Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes as claimed.
