The Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has revealed that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been quietly declared wanted by the State Security Service (SSS) also known as the Department of State Services (DSS).
Falana disclosed this during an interview session on Sunday politics, a channels TV programme where he frowned at the recent case against Godwin Emefiele.
The Human rights lawyer said the secret police should file a proper charge against Emefiele so that he could enter into defense.
“I can say without fear or contradiction that Mr Godwin Emefiele is not in Nigeria, he hasn’t returned to the country because he has been quietly declared wanted by the State Security Service (SSS)’’
“This can only happen in a banana republic where the governor of the CBN will be accused of a grave offense of terrorism financing. The details are not stipulated, they are not outlined. These guys play on our collective intelligence because they know we are very forgetful.
“You can’t raise such a serious allegation against a governor of the CBN and then pretend that nothing has happened.
“Has the government considered the enormous implications of the effect of a wanted governor of the CBN on the economy?
“I expect the SSS to come out with the allegations, and if Mr Emefiele is not going to return to the country, file a charge in the federal high court so that he can get his lawyers and prepare his defense.
Reports emerged recently, saying that the DSS had approached a federal high court in Abuja seeking a warrant to arrest Emefiele over allegations that he was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes.
The Chief Judge, J.T Tsoho, declined the application and held that the secret police did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims.
There were suggestions that the bid to arrest Emefiele might be political given the impact the redesign of the naira and limit on cash withdrawals might have on vote-buying in the elections.
In a related development, Newsflash Nigeria reports that Rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to file charges against Godwin Emefiele.
Newsflash Nigeria understands that CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele faces allegations of terrorism financing, diversion of revenue, agricultural loans and fraudulent practices in Forex transactions.
Adegboruwa in a statement on Monday, January 16, 2023, said a public officer cannot be above probe or the law if there is indeed a case for him to answer.
The lawyer recalled how the DSS sought a court order to arrest and investigate Emefiele but was “greatly embarrassed”.
“It is better to make everything plain and open to the Nigerian people”, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) advised.
Adegboruwa admitted the “various crises” surrounding the CBN Governor do not speak well for the economy.
He, however, stressed that there should be no undue persecution or arrest of anyone without lawful cause or justification.
The SAN maintains DSS does not require the arrest of a citizen to file a charge in court if there is truly an allegation.
Adegboruwa said the issues of alleged stamp duty and sponsorship of terrorism “are documentary”, adding that the charges will “compel the (court) attendance of the defendant”.
“There is therefore no need for the seemingly unending drama between Mr. Emefiele, the DSS, and the Presidency unless, of course, it is part of the hidden agenda”, he added
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