The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has declared the prolonged detention of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emfiele, without trial as a violation of his fundamental rights.
It consequently slammed a N100 million fine against the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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Listed as defendants in the suit were the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the EFCC, and its chairman.
The court, in its judgment yesterday, restrained the government and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without an order of court.
The EFCC, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, stating that the decision failed to take cognizance of the fact that the former CBN boss was held with a valid order of court. Consequently, the Commission will approach the Court of Appeal to set it aside.
In the ruling delivered in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the CBN ex-governor, following his prolonged detention in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), the court declared that Emefiele must not be re-arrested without an order of court.
The erstwhile CBN boss was arrested on June 10, 2023, shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.