Court To Rule On Emefiele’s Fundamental Rights Jan 8

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of The Federal Capital Territory High Court’s has set January 8 for his ruling in the enforcement of a fundamental rights complaint brought by Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The judge fixed the date after listening to arguments by parties in the suit.

He equally reserved ruling in the preliminary objections filed by all four respondents in the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/040/2023.

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The embattled Emefiele had dragged the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the commission before the court to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, a fair hearing, and freedom of movement.

Emefiele sought a declaration from the court that his continued detention by the agency of the first and second respondents since June 10, 2023, and subsequent transfer to the custody of the third and fourth respondents on October 26, 2023, without being arraigned in court is unlawful.

He said the respondents’ defiance of several valid court orders for his release is tantamount to a grave violation of his fundamental rights to life and personal liberty as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Emefiele, therefore, among others, sought an injunction restraining the respondents from further arresting and/or further detaining him on his release by the court without proffering a criminal charge against him.

He also sought damages in the amount of N1 billion in his favour for the violation of his fundamental rights.