Illegal Detention: Court Orders FG To Pay Emefiele N100m

 

A Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory has declared, as illegal, the prolonged detention of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emfiele, without trial.

The court declared the detention as a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights.

The court slammed a N100 million fine against the federal government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It also restrained the federal government and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without an order of court.

The court, in its judgement 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 ruled that his rights was violated.

The embattled former CBN governor prayed the court to order the respondents to pay him N1bn damages and to restrain them from further arresting and or detaining him.

Emefiele was arrested on June 10 shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.

The defendants in the suit include the federal government, the attorney general of the federation; the EFCC and its chairman.