Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has scheduled July 13, 2023, as the date for delivering his ruling in the enforcement of fundamental rights suit filed by Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This decision was made after hearing submissions from the parties involved in the case.
Emefiele has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 9, 2023, following his arrest by DSS operatives in Lagos shortly after being suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Chief Joseph Daudu SAN, argued that the court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter, contrary to the preliminary objection raised by the respondents against the originating summons. Daudu stated that the offences listed against Emefiele were state offences that could be entertained by the FCT High Court.
However, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Tijjani Ghazali, informed the court that the first respondent was challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. Ghazali argued that Emefiele’s arrest and detention by the DSS were administrative decisions of an executive arm. He added that jurisdiction is determined by the reliefs sought by the applicant.
The counsel for the second and third respondents, Mr. I. Awo, informed the court that there was a subsisting order to detain Emefiele and urged the court to dismiss the application with cost.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, Justice Muazu announced that the ruling would be delivered on July 13.