The Department of State Services (DSS) announced on Thursday said it has charged Godwin Emefiele, the embattled suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to court, in compliance with an order from the Abuja High Court.
The court had directed the secret police to either charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him.
Shortly after the court order was issued, the spokesman for the DSS, Peter Afunanya confirmed that Emefiele had indeed been charged to court, although he did not disclose the specific court where the charges were filed or the allegations brought against the suspended bank chief.
In a late Thursday statement, Afunanya explained, “The public may recall that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation.”
He further added, “Though he (Emefiele) obtained a restraining order from an FCT High Court, the Service, however, arrested him in June 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.”
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The DSS sought to assure the public that Emefiele’s case would be handled with professionalism, justice, and fairness. Further details regarding the charges and the court proceedings were not immediately available.
The case against Emefiele, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s banking sector, has garnered significant attention.
It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and what implications they may have for the country’s financial landscape.
On Thursday, an Abuja High Court issued an order directing the DSS to bring criminal charges against the suspended governor of the CBN, Emefiele if there are any allegations against him.
The Judge, Hamza Muazu further ruled that Emefiele should be released on bail if he is not presented before a competent court within one week.
However, the judge also acknowledged that Emefiele failed to substantiate his claim that his arrest, detention, and investigation were illegal, as they were based on a valid court order.
(omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
