BY Bolanle Olabimtan
A federal capital territory (FCT) high court has ordered the federal government and the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pay N100 million in damages to Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over violation of his rights.
Olukayode Adeniyi, presiding judge, granted the order on Monday when he held that Emefiele’s prolonged detention without trial was a flagrant violation of his rights.
Emefiele had instituted a fundamental human rights suit against the federal government, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the EFCC.
He claimed that they breached his rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement.
He sought a declaration of the court that his continued detention by the Department of Security Service (DSS) since June 10, 2023 and subsequent transfer to the custody of the EFCC on October 26, 2023 without being arraigned in court is unlawful.
Emefiele said despite court orders directing his release, he was still kept in detention.
He had asked the court to order the respondents to pay the sum of N1bn damages and to restrain them from further arresting and or detaining him.
Emefiele was first arrested by the operatives of DSS in June after being handed a suspension by President Bola Tinubu.
He was initially arraigned on charges bordering on illegal possession of firearms but the charges were later withdrawn.
However, the former CBN governor is standing trial on a six-count charge of procurement fraud.
On November 22, he was granted bail in the sum of N300 million.
The judge had also ruled that the former CBN governor must produce two sureties in like sum who would have certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama district in Abuja.
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