The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been instructed to promptly allow the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, unrestricted access to his legal counsel and family members, in accordance with his constitutional rights.
Emefiele’s arrest by the DSS on Saturday, shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu on Friday evening, has prompted this order. Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama Abuja issued the directive on Friday, following an application made by J.B. Daudu SAN, representing Emefiele.
Daudu informed the court that he had written letters to the DSS, specifically on June 14, in order to obtain further instructions from his client. However, the DSS has been unresponsive to the application.
On the contrary, counsel for the second and third respondents, I. Awo, stated that the DSS typically does not refuse such requests, deeming their lack of response as inappropriate. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the security agency would comply with the court’s order and allow the listed lawyers and family members of Emefiele to visit him. The counsel for the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation did not oppose the application.
In a separate development, the counsel for the DSS and the Office of the AGF requested an extension of time to file their respective responses to the originating motion. The court granted this request, and the hearing of the substantive suit has been adjourned until Tuesday, June 19.