Fresh twist as Emefiele plots to flee Nigeria - DSS reveals

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has been told that the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, will flee the country if granted bail.

This argument was laid down by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday, June 20, with the Attorney General of the Federation describing Emefiele as a “flight risk.”

Emefiele and his legal attorney are challenging his detention as he hopes to trigger his fundamental human rights by making a case on the premise of being unlawfully detained.

As reported by Punch, a counter affidavit was issued by the DSS and OAGF to deny the bail of Emefiele in his fundamental rights suit.

The OAGF affidavit reads: “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."

Meanwhile, the DSS claims that Emefiele is in detention to an order of a competent court.

The DSS said he was arrested based “on 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.”

The legal attorney of the OAGF, Tijani Gazal (SAN), prayed to the court to dismiss the suit noting that the argument of the embattled Emefiele was unfounded.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, has set aside his ruling until Thursday, July 13.