From Fred Itua, Abuja
A Civil Society Organisation, African Center for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), said that the Department of Security Services (DSS) will be rubbishing President Muhammadu Buhari and the judiciary if it goes after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele despite a court order barring them over the alleged trumped up charges of terrorism financing.
The group in a statement by its communication consultant, Abubakar Isa, recalled that Justice M.A. Hassan had barred the DSS from inviting, arresting, detaining or charging the CBN Governor with any allegation of terrorism or fraudulent act.
He noted that the Justice described the plot to arrest Emefiele of terrorism as oppressive, baseless, fabricated and unacceptable.
Isa frowned at the fact that despite the court order, there are reports that the DSS is still hell bent on arresting Emefiele.
He wondered what use is democracy in Nigeria if a security agency wants to violate the ruling of a major pillar of democratic governance and an orderly society.
He reiterated call for the arrest of DG DSS, Yusuf Bichi and operatives involved in the trumped up allegation of terrorism against Emefiele.
The statement reads: “In December 2022, the court quashed the Department of Security Services move to charge CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele with trumped up charges of terrorism financing and economic crimes. The court, as the last hope of the citizen, has made a pronouncement on the legal rights and obligations of citizen Godwin Emefiele, it behoves on all agencies of government to obey the order of the court, until such order is set aside by an appellate court. The constitutional role of the judiciary as the third arm of government includes to serve as a bulwark against oppression and intimidation. Regrettably, this hallowed principle appears to mean little to the country’s political leadership despite decades of democracy.
“In a display of recklessness, DSS is about to exhibit defiance to a lawful court order, thereby violating a major pillar of democratic governance and an orderly society. A major hallmark of democratic governance is the principle and practice of the separation of powers. DSS will be rubbishing President Muhammadu Buhari and the judiciary if they go after Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele despite Court order barring them over the alleged trumped up charges of terrorism financing.”
