Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has dismissed a request filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking a 14-day extended detention order for the suspended Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
The embattled CBN boss, arraigned on two-count charge of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, was granted bail on Tuesday in Lagos.
The court ordered the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCOS) to take the suspended bank official into custody but the secret police self-styled Department of State Services (DSS) physically assaulted prison officials over the custody of Emefiele on Tuesday.
The secret police, later rearrested the suspended bank official and a day after, discreetly filed an application seeking to keep Mr Emefiele in detention for the next two weeks.
Vacation judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, who heard the suit on Thursday threw it out, describing it as an abuse of court process and identifying the lack of jurisdiction.
The DSS based its application on purported new evidence it had discovered..
Justice Muazu dismissed the application, citing it as an abuse of court process and identifying the lack of jurisdiction.
Upon questioning by the judge about the court’s jurisdiction, given the exclusive rights of the Magistrate Court to grant detention orders under Sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the DSS’s counsel, Mr. Victor Ejelonu, opted to withdraw the matter.
