June 27, (THEWILL) – Dr Okanta Emefiele, the younger brother of suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement application before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, seeking to restrain the Department of State Services (DSS), from further detaining his brother.
Filed by Emefiele’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), Okanta alleged that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the DSS, are witch-hunting his brother because of his “people-oriented financial policies”, which several political actors are not comfortable with and are now looking for means to scandalise and smear his image and reputation.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on June 9, suspended the CBN governor from office, to enable investigation into allegations against him.
Emefiele, who was subsequently arrested, has been in the custody of the DSS since Saturday, June 10, 2023.
In his affidavit before the court, Okanta said he has the consent and authority of his older brother, to depose the statement on his behalf since he was still being detained at the DSS facility.
Alleging political witch-hunt, Okanta said, “Mr Emefiele, who served Nigeria meritoriously and brought laudable financial and monetary policies, as approved by the former president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is now being treated like a common criminal, kept in an inhuman condition, denied food, his medications, and his spouse; family members, doctors, and lawyers, are not allowed access to him.
“I know as a fact that this policy is a serious blow to several politicians and a clog in electoral fraud in Nigeria as several dishonorable politicians set out plans to rig the 2023 General Elections through vote buying and electoral fraud, while insecurity is on the rise.
“That I know as a fact that one of such plots by these politicians includes to frame the applicant on unfounded allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, as well as allegations of plots to cover up N89 trillion stamp duty fraud, which the former administration of President Buhari had personally debunked as been untrue, unfounded and unmeritorious in all regards.”
Okanta further alleged that “these mindless and faceless politicians planned to use the instrumentality of the judicial process to intimidate, harass, oppress and force him out of office in order to continue in the old pattern of electoral fraud and vote buying.”
He further contended that the detention of Emefiele remains illegal because it has already been determined with finality by Justice M.A. Hassan of the same court of coordinate jurisdiction in a matter between the Incorporated Trustees of Forum For Accountability and Good Leadership versus President, Federal Republic of Nigeria(Suit No: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/41/2022).
Okanta urged the court to order the release of the embattled CBN governor, adding that if the court fails to intervene, he “would be subjected to considerable physical and psychological torture, which may lead to his death, incapacitation or aggravation of his ill-health for no just cause.”
The court had earlier fixed July 13 for ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement application for bail, filed by the suspended CBN governor.
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