ABUJA, Nigeria – Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, to allow suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele, unrestricted access to his lawyers and family members.
Emefiele was arrested by the DSS on Saturday, June 10, 2023, following his suspension by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, June 16, 2023.
Emefiele’s lawyer, J.B. Daudu SAN, informed the court that he had written letters to the DSS on June 14, 2023, seeking to meet with Emefiele for further instructions, but the security agency had failed to respond.
In response, I. Awo, counsel for the DSS, told the court that the agency does not typically refuse such requests and was confident it would comply with the court order.
The counsel for the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation did not oppose the application.
In a related development, both the DSS and the Office of the AGF asked the court for an extension of time to file their responses to the originating motion.
The court granted the request and adjourned the case to Tuesday, June 20, 2023, for a hearing of the substantive suit.
