Emefiele’s suit against FG: July 13 fixed for judgment

In a suit filled by the embattled suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , the court has maintained its stand for the judgement till July 13, 2023.

Emefiele is challenging the Federal Government for his unlawful detention and infringement on his fundamental rights.

The court under the Lordship, Justice Hamza Muazu fixed the date after listening to submissions made by parties in the matter for July.

The jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter was challenged by the respondent, however, was countered by the counsel to Emefiele, Joseph Daudu (SAN) who averred that contrary to the preliminary objection raised against the originating summons on notice by the respondents, the court has the jurisdiction to accept and decide on the matter.

He argued that, the offences listed against the plaintiff are state offences and as such falls within the powers of the court to entertain.

Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Tijjani Ghazali (SAN), told the court that the first respondent is questioning the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter brought before it by the applicant.

He argued that Emefiele’s arrest and detention is a matter of the state, undertaken by the executive arm of government, adding that jurisdiction is determined by the reliefs sought by an applicant.

In his submission, he begged the court to dismiss the application, submitting that the allegation of unlawful detention has no grounds, as the plaintiff is being detained on the order of an FCT Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Counsel to the second and third respondents, I. Awo, told the court that there was a subsisting order to detain the applicant and, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application with cost.

The presiding judge, consequently, fixed July 13 for ruling.

Emefiele was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu, on June 10, and was arrested shortly after, by the Service, who further detained.

Initially the Service had refuted the news when the rumour broke out that the embattled CBN Governor had been arrested by their operatives, but later issued a statement affirming its veracity.

Following Emefiele’s allegation agains the DSS ‘ refusing to grant him access to his family, the agency’s spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, had made the rebuttal, with a statement that – “The DSS operates within its mandate.”

According to Afunanya, the celebration of the news of a court order to allow Emefiele’s lawyers and family access to him is “quite unnecessary.”

According to him: “He was never denied access. Ever since he was taken into custody, his family has continually accessed him. Same with medical officials. The impression that the Service is going to act on the prompting of the court is not correct.”

On the part of the Federal Government, it justified Emefiele’s suspension, explaining that it was necessary to allow “ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.”