The Department of State Services (DSS) and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) have defended the detention of the suspended CBN governor Godwin Emefiele.
Both parties warned against his release in separate counter-affidavits.
The DSS told the court on Tuesday, June 20, that Emefiele would flee if the court granted him bail. Emefiele had approached the High Court, Abuja, challenging his detention by the DSS.
In his motion, he asked the court to enforce his right to liberty and freedom of movement, saying there was no basis for his continuous detention.
However, the DSS and OAGF insisted that the governor’s detention was lawful.
According to the DSS, Emefiele was being held pursuant to an order of a competent court.
It said the arrest was “upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incit£m£nt to viol£nc£, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimension and undermining the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The OAGF, supporting the DSS, described Emefiele as a flight ri§k.
The attorney-general also debunked the speculation that Emefiele was detained for t£rrorist-related crimes. The OAGF maintained that Emefiele was not being victimised for his political involvement and the botched naira redesign policy.
Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case till July 13 for a ruling.
