Why We Are Yet To Obey Court Ruling On Emefiele’s Custody – FG

Why We Are Yet To Obey Court Ruling On Emefiele’s Custody – FG

The delay in complying with the court ruling regarding the custody of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, is attributed to administrative processes and pending charges against him, as clarified by the federal government.

Abubakar Mohammed, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, addressed journalists after a court session on Tuesday.

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He sought to withdraw the firearms charge against Emefiele at the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Emefiele was arraigned by the federal government on 25 July on charges of “illegal possession” of firearms and live ammunition. Despite being granted bail of N20 million, he was immediately rearrested by the State Security Service (SSS) upon leaving the courtroom, sparking a confrontation between officials of the two agencies.

Mohammed clarified that the SSS’s action of rearresting Emefiele wasn’t an act of disobedience to the court order.

He emphasized that the court’s ruling involved granting bail and remanding him in the custody of the correctional service pending bail conditions, with administrative procedures required for transferring detainees from one agency to another, causing the delay.

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Mohammed further explained that Emefiele is under investigation for other offenses, the outcome of which will determine the charges to be filed against him.

He noted that there is another pending charge against him in the high court, impacting the compliance process with the court’s order.

Regarding the pending charges, Mohammed mentioned that “unlawful possession of firearms may be part of it and perhaps more.” He also highlighted charges related to unlawful advantage and procurement.

Human rights lawyer Monday Ubani disputed the government’s explanation, asserting that the SSS violated the court order. Ubani labeled the DPP’s statement as “watery” and emphasized that no administrative procedures can override a court ruling.

He criticized the SSS for ignoring the court order and expressed concern about the prolonged detention of Emefiele under a democratic system, deeming it illegal and indicative of a disregard for the rule of law.