DSS and OAGF inform the court that Emefiele will flee if granted bail (Details)

On Tuesday, the Department of State Services (DSS) informed the Federal Capital Territory High Court that Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, would leave the country if he was granted bail.

The DSS's argument was also supported by the Federation Attorney General, who described Emefiele as a "flight risk."

The former head of the apex bank is challenging the DSS's detention and refusal to allow him to see his family and attorneys.

According to Gozzip Center, Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Tinubu and detained by the DSS on June 10, 2023. 

At the resumption of the hearing on Tuesday, both the DSS and OAGF stated this in separate counter-affidavits filed by the suspended CBN chief in a fundamental rights enforcement suit.

The OAGF denied in its own affidavit that Emefiele was being held for terrorist-related offenses. It also stated that his involvement in politics and the flawed naira redesign policy were not causing him harm.

The OAGF said: 

“Issues of terrorism financing and fraudulent activities are not part of the grounds for the arrest and detention of the applicant.

“The respondents have not violated the applicant’s right to live in any way, his life is not in danger. The respondents did not subject the applicant to any judicial adjudication to warrant the allegation of denial of a fair hearing.

“With the remand order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, the said violation of the applicant’s right to freedom of movement does not arise.

The respondents did not subject the applicant to any torture, the details of which have not been provided.”

The DSS, on the other hand, stated that Emefiele was being held in accordance with a court order.

In addition, the arrested CBN boss was mentioned below:

“Upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimension and undermining the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”