Why Emefiele Should Not Be Granted Bail – DSS, AGF Tells Court | READ DETAILS
The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF), has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court not to grant bail to the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
According to the DSS and AGF on Tuesday, Emefiele poses a flight risk and will flee Nigeria once he is granted bail.
Emefiele who was suspended by Bola Tinubu and subsequently detained by the DSS on Saturday, June 10, 2023 is asking the court to grant him access to his family and lawyers and also discharge him from custody on bail.
However, at the resumption of hearing on Tuesday, both the DSS and AGF in separate counter-affidavits, dismissed the speculation that Emefiele was being held for terrorist-related crimes. It also said he was not being victimised for his involvement in politics and the botched naira redesign policy.
“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 its part, said that Emefiele was being held pursuant to an order of a competent court.
It added that the suspended CBN boss was arrested;
“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.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Tijani Gazal, who represented the OAGF, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that Emefiele’s allegation of unlawful detention was unfounded as he was being detained on the order of an FCT Chief Magistrates Court.
After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned until July 13 for a ruling.
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