Court restrains FG, EFCC from arresting Emefiele

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT High Court on Monday has restrained the federal government and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting the suspended former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, unless an order was obtained through a competent court.

The court also awarded N100 million in damages to the suspended former governor of the CBN against the FG and EFCC for violations of his rights.

The judge held that the respondents need not incarcerate the applicant in other to carry out investigation for a long period as against the provisions of the law.

” No material placed before the court to show that the release of the applicant will in any way interfere with the investigation of allegations preferred against him.

” The first respondent as a creator of the law is constantly bind by the law.

” The remand order that was not obtained properly is considered to be a flagrant violation of the fundamental right of the applicant.

” The facts placed before the court shows that he was incarcerated beyond the period stipulated by the law with charging him to court.

He held that the agents of the government who are in charge of arrest and detention should abide by the provisions of the law.

He added otherwise, they would be liable to pay compensation to a person whose fundamental right was violated.

The judge further held that is not the length of time that determines violation of fundamental right but the illegality of the action.

The embattled Emefiele had dragged the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Commission before the court to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement.

Emefiele sought a declaration of the court that his continued detention by the agency of the first and second respondents since June 10, 2023 and subsequent transfer to the custody of the third and fourth respondents on October 26, 2023 without being arraigned in court is unlawful.

He said the respondents in deviance of several valid subsisting court orders for his release amounts to a grave violation of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He, therefore, among others sought an injunction restraining the respondents from further arresting and or further detaining him up on his release by the court without proffering a criminal charge against him.

He also sought damages of N1 billion in his favour for the violation of his fundamental rights.