Court Stops DSS From Arresting Emefiele For Financing Terrorism

A court has stopped the DSS from arresting Emefiele for terrorism charges.

 

Newsonline reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reportedly stopped the Department of State Services, DSS, from arresting the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over allegations bothering on “acts of financing terrorism, fraudulent activities and economic crimes of national security dimension.”

Also: President Buhari Assents Electoral Act, Money Laundering, Terrorism Bills

 

This online media platform reports that a group of civil society organisations raised the alarm that there was a plot to frame Emefiele for terrorism and remove him from office, on Monday.

The secret police had reportedly filed a suit on December 7, 2022, seeking to arrest the CBN governor. Justice J.T  Tsoho gave the ruling declining to grant the application for the governor’s arrest on December 9, 2022.

The suit, with reference number FHC/Abj/CS/2255/2022, had State Security Services as the applicant.

 

Refusing to grant the DSS request, the judge said, “In the light of the foregoing reasons, I decline to grant this application ex parte. If the applicant believes that the evidence available to it so far is sufficient, then it can as well arrest and detain the applicant, even without the order of the court. If however the applicant desires to still pursue this application, then it should place the respondent on notice considering the sensitive public office that he occupies.”

Meanwhile, reacting, the DSS stated that it would not join issues with those protesting the suit filed against the CBN governor, saying they were on a wild goose chase.

 

In a release signed by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, the agency  maintained that it remain focused and unbiased and not succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it.

“While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to. It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.

The service warned those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions. Similarly, it urges members of the public to disregard the vituperations and rantings of misguided elements and not allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.”