Application by state security service to elongate Emefiele’s detention fails
The move by the State Security Service(SS) to elongate detention of the suspended former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Godwin Emefiele on Thursday hit brickwall as the High Court sitting in Abuja struck out the application
Penpushing reports that the security operatives had quietly filed the application to elongate Emefiele’s detention, in a desperate bid to legitimise its disobedience to an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos granting bail to him.
The State Security Service(SSS) had told the court in the application reference number FCT/HC/M/12105/2023, on Wednesday that the agency had uncovered fresh evidence that warrants the request for the order.
Penpushing further reports that the judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, having listened to the State Security Service(SSS) fresh application on Thursday. struck out the application for being an abuse of court processes and for want of jurisdiction.
The judge when questioned the security operatives lawyer Victor Ejelonu, on the court’s jurisdiction in view of the provisions of Sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which vests exclusive rights on the Magistrates’ Court to grant detention orders, the counsel withdrew the prayer.
The Federal High Court in Lagos it is recalled had, on Tuesday, granted bail to the embattled former apex bank boss, after he pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition filed against him by the State Security Service(SSS).
Penpushing also reports that the judge ordered the federal prisons in Lagos to take custody of Emefiele pending when he would meet his bail conditions, but the security operatives in violation of the order scuttled an attempt by prison officials to take custody of the defendant on the court premises, leading to a clash between the officers of the two federal agencies.
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