The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has charged suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele to court following his obtainment of an Abuja High Court Order restraining his continuous detention by the DSS.
Following Emefiele’s charge to court, a justice organisation, IPC Justice has demanded that the DSS make public the sins of Emwfiele for which he is detained and now charged to Court, citing that the former CBN Governor could be a political scapegoat of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The DSS in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, said: Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, 13th July, 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele has been charged to Court in compliance with the Order.
“The public may recall that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation. Though he obtained a restraining Order from an FCT High Court, the Service, however, arrested him in June, 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.
“The Service assures the public of professionalism, justice and fairness in handling this matter and indeed the discharge of its duties within the confines of the law.”
However, IPC Justice has cautioned the DSS, reminding the secret service that “the Nigerian people and public are demanding answers about the charges against Emefiele.
The DSS has not specified the charges against Emefiele, and this is unacceptable.”
In a statement posted on its official Twitter account, the IPC Justice, a rights body working against corruption in government said the people have a right to know what Emefiele is accused of, and deserve to be kept informed about the case.
“We also demand to know why it took until now to charge him to court. This delay is suspicious, and it raises questions about the DSS’s motives.
“We urge the DSS to provide us with more information about the charges against Emefiele, and to ensure that he is given a fair trial. We also urge the DSS to respect the independence of the CBN, and to refrain from interfering in the political process.
“The DSS has a continued history of human rights abuses, and we are concerned that Emefiele may be the victim of political persecution.
“The charges against Emefiele could be politically motivated, and we urge the Nigerian people to investigate this possibility and take this seriously.”
The body charged the DSS to be transparent in its investigation, and release all evidences against Emefiele, while urging the service to respect the rule of law by not interfering in the judicial process.
