The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tosho, rejected an experte application made by the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, on Monday.
The DSS reportedly applied to arrest Emefiele for financing terrorism in Nigeria.
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) started a protest against the arrest of the CBN governor as they claim it is sponsored to see that the withdrawal limit policy is not put in place.
In a press conference that the CSOs held on Monday, they alleged that the DSS embarked on this plot to arrest the CBN Governor for political and pecuniary reasons.
According to the coalition, if the application is approved, Emefiele would be placed in detention for at least 60 days, which would be enough time for another person to be imposed as the Governor of the Central Bank, and prevent the implementation of the withdrawal policy.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, under the directive of Emefiele, had imposed a withdrawal policy that allows a maximum of N100,000 withdrawal weekly.
Addressing journalists, the Coordinator of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Tochukwu Ohazurike, said the application was rejected by the Chief Judge who observed it to be irregular.
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He quoted the Chief Judge as saying, “ It is noted that it had been the practice of the applicant to seek the detention of a respondent from under detention for a definite time period when such a respondent is already arrested and is in their custody and fact is clearly disclosed in the supporting affidavit. That is not the situation here.
“Godwin Emefiele, the governor of CBN was shown on television last night having audience with the President of Nigeria. It is therefore seen that the applicant want to use this order for an irregular procedure which is unacceptable,” Justice Tosho said.
