The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, a socio-cultural organization, has expressed apprehension over the Department of State Services’ (DSS) apparent reluctance to bring the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, before a court. This comes after the DSS filed charges of possessing a registered weapon against Emefiele.
Just last week, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, based in Abuja, mandated the DSS to release Emefiele from detention immediately. The order came from Justice Hamza Muazu, who presided over the case and ruled after listening to all the involved parties.
Justice Muazu noted in his verdict that any form of detention, regardless of its duration, infringes on basic human rights. However, the legality of such detention needs to be assessed. He consequently gave the DSS a one-week ultimatum to either charge Emefiele or set him free.
Despite the court order, the DSS filed charges against Emefiele for possession of a registered weapon on the same day but has yet to arraign him in court. This delay has sparked concerns from the Arewa Youths.
The group, through its convener, Kabiru Yusuf, voiced its worries over the DSS’s seeming intent to keep Emefiele in custody rather than adhering to the court’s directive. The Arewa Youths asserted that the DSS apparently has no substantial grounds against Emefiele, which might explain their hesitation in proceeding with the arraignment. The group further stated that Emefiele’s only “fault” was his initiation of various beneficial policies for the Nigerian people during his tenure as CBN Governor.
The group urged the DSS to uphold the rule of law by either releasing Emefiele or promptly arraigning him in court, thereby informing Nigerians of the nature of the charges against him.
SOURCE: Independent
IMAGE: Voice Of Nigeria
