ACJHR slams DSS for the re-arrest of Emefiele on terrorism allegations, deeming it baseless and ridiculous.

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The African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), a prominent civil society organization (CSO), has strongly condemned the rearrest of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, by the Department of State Services (DSS) on terrorism charges. According to ACJHR, the act is not only void but also laughable, as a previous court judgment had already invalidated the terrorism allegations and barred the secret police from taking any further action against him.

The controversy escalated when officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) clashed with DSS agents over custody of the embattled Apex Bank Chief. This occurred shortly after Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted bail to Emefiele in the sum of N20 million on Tuesday. Despite the court ruling, DSS operatives forcibly took custody of Emefiele, leading to a physical altercation.

In a strongly worded statement issued by Mr. Abubakar Isa, the strategic communication consultant of ACJHR, the organization expressed its incredulity at the actions of the supposed Intelligence Agency. It questioned how a competent court of law's ruling could be disregarded and how someone could be rearrested based on claims that had already been addressed by the judiciary. The organization raised concerns about the DSS challenging the authority and competence of the judiciary, indicating that it undermined the principle of separation of powers.

The statement pointed out that several court rulings had previously favored Emefiele. Months ago, Justice M. A. Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had issued an order restraining the DSS and others from arresting or detaining the CBN Governor over alleged terrorism financing. The judge explicitly held that the DSS's actions were wrongful and illegal, especially in instigating President Muhammadu Buhari against Emefiele regarding his statutory duty related to monetary policies and directives in the interest of national security and the economy.

Furthermore, a recent ruling by a High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu, had ordered the immediate release of Emefiele from detention or his presentation in court. These multiple court rulings demonstrated that the secret police appeared to have a personal vendetta against the CBN Governor and displayed a troubling pattern of non-compliance with court orders, disregarding the sanctity of the judiciary.

The ACJHR expressed profound disappointment in the incident that occurred at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The statement appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and prevent the DSS from tarnishing his hard-earned reputation as a world-renowned democrat. It called for respect for the rule of law and emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of justice and human rights in the nation's governance.

In conclusion, the ACJHR's statement echoed a resounding plea for adherence to the law and emphasized the significance of honoring court rulings and respecting the independence of the judiciary. The unfolding events surrounding the rearrest of Godwin Emefiele by the DSS served as a critical moment for Nigeria to uphold the principles of democracy and safeguard the rule of law.

 

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