Nigeria's Secret Police Reveals Plans to Charge Emefiele - The Trent

ABUJA, Nigeria - The Department of State Services, DSS, has brought formal charges against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele.

In a statement released on Thursday, July 13, 2023, DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya announced the legal action, affirming that the decision to charge Emefiele was taken in compliance with an order from the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The exact nature of the charges, however, was not detailed in Afunanya's announcement.

This latest development is a significant move in the ongoing legal saga involving Emefiele, who has been under suspension since allegations of misconduct arose earlier this year.

The specifics of the alleged misconduct have not been publicly disclosed, though it is understood that they pertain to Emefiele's conduct during his tenure as the head of the Central Bank.

Emefiele's suspension, announced several months ago, marked an abrupt halt in what had been a lengthy career in Nigeria's financial sector.

Prior to his appointment as Central Bank Governor, Emefiele served as the chief executive of Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria's largest commercial banks.

This high-profile case is being closely monitored both domestically and internationally, given Emefiele's prominent position in the Nigerian banking sector and the potential implications for the country's financial stability.

As of now, the timeline for the court proceedings is uncertain.

The DSS has pledged to respect due process throughout the proceedings.

"We are committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served," Afunanya stated in his announcement. "As always, we shall act in the nation's best interest."

Emefiele, for his part, has yet to comment publicly on the charges.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court has set July 13, 2023, as the date for its ruling in the enforcement of fundamental rights suit filed by Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Justice Hamza Muazu fixed the date after hearing arguments from all parties involved in the matter.

Joseph Daudu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to Emefiele, argued against the preliminary objection raised against the originating summons on notice by the respondents.

He stated that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, as the offenses listed against Emefiele are state offenses that fall within the remit of the FCT High Court.

Tijjani Ghazali, SAN and counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, countered that the first respondent challenges the court's jurisdiction to hear the case.

He argued that Emefiele's arrest and detention by the Department of State Services are administrative decisions of an executive arm, and therefore, the court's jurisdiction is determined by the reliefs sought by the applicant.

Ghazali urged the court to dismiss the application, arguing that the allegations of unlawful detention are unfounded, as the embattled CBN Governor is being detained based on an order from an FCT Chief Magistrate Court.

I. Awo, counsel for the second and third respondents, also requested that the court dismiss the application, citing a subsisting order for the applicant's detention.

The case has been adjourned until July 13, 2023, when the court is expected to make its ruling.