The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has declared the prolonged detention of the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emfiele without trial as a flagrant violation of his fundamental.

 

The court also slammed a total of N100m fine against the FG and the Economic Financial Crime Commission. 

Correspondent Kunle Ojo reports that the judgment was given in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the former CBN governor following his 

 prolonged detention in the custody of the Department of State Services.

He asked the court to order the respondents to pay him N1bn damages and to restrain them from further arresting and or detaining him.

The ex-CBN boss was arrested on June 10 shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.

Listed as defendants in the suit were the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and its chairman.

 

Delivering the judgment on Monday, Justice Kayode Adeniyi also restrained the FG and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without an order of court.

The Court held that without prejudice to the powers of the court with respect to the criminal trial, the applicant is currently facing at the High Court of the FCT,  the respondents are hereby restrained either by themselves,  their officers,  agents, or any person acting on their behalf from further re-arresting or detaining the applicants without an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.