Court Nullifies Arrest And Detention Of Suspended CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

In a significant legal development, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has once again declared the arrest, detention, and interrogation of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), by the Department of State Services (DSS) as null and void.

This latest ruling by Justice Bello Kawu comes just 24 hours after another court in the FCT had delivered a judgment on the matter. In an originating motion on notice brought before the court by Emefiele, Justice Kawu held that the arrest, detention, and interrogation were in clear violation of the existing judgment and orders issued by Justice Mohammed Hassan of the FCT High Court.

The defendants named in the lawsuit include the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership, Attorney-General of the Federation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector-General of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the CBN.

Emefiele had approached the court seeking to have his arrest and detention set aside, invalidated, and declared null and void, citing their illegality in light of the earlier judgment delivered on December 29, 2022, by the High Court.

In response to the motion, Justice Kawu granted the ex parte request made by Emefiele. The court also issued an order that set aside, invalidated, quashed, and nullified any warrant of arrest obtained or secured by the respondents, particularly the DSS, pertaining to Emefiele’s arrest, detention, or interrogation in connection with allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, round tripping, or any threat to national security, originating from any court since the date of the judgment by Justice M. A. Hassan.