Court Strikes Out DSS Suit Seeking To Keep Emefiele In Detention

July 27, 2023

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a request filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking a 14-day extended detention order for the suspended Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

Channels Television reports that the application was discreetly filed by the DSS’s legal team on Wednesday and presented before the vacation judge on Thursday.

Justice Hamza Muazu dismissed the application, citing it as an abuse of court process and identifying the lack of jurisdiction.

Upon questioning by the judge about the court’s jurisdiction, given the exclusive rights of the Magistrate Court to grant detention orders under Sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the DSS’s counsel, Mr. Victor Ejelonu, opted to withdraw the matter.