Dr. Okanta Emefiele, the younger brother of the embattled governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Services, 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 scandalize and smear his image and reputation.
Okanta, who warned that his
brother may die in custody if not granted bail, made the allegation in his
affidavit in support of the fundamental rights application filed by Emefiele’s
lead counsel, J.B. Daudu SAN.
Among other prayers sought, Daudu
had asked the court to restrain the DSS from further detaining his client under
the guise of investigating him for terrorism financing, fraudulent activities,
thereby interfering with his right to freedom of movement, personal liberty,
and human dignity.
In his affidavit before the court
, Okanta stated he has the consent and authority of his elder brother to depose
the statement on his behalf since he was still being detained at the DSS
facility.
Buttressing his allegations of a
political witch-hunt by AGF and DSS, Okanta said the respondents have allegedly
been applying to various courts with a view to obtaining favourable orders so
as to help legalize the illegality certain unnamed politicians have finetuned
against him.
“That 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,” he stated.
He further alleged that these
mindless and faceless politicians planned to use the instrumentality of the
judicial process to intimidate, harass and 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.”
While the court has fixed July 13
for ruling on the application, the AGF and DSS had
raised preliminary objections to Emefiele’s applications and affidavit.
In a counter affidavit filed by
its counsel, I. Awo, the DSS denied the allegation of political witch-hunt,
maintaining that it remains apolitical and does not act in the interest of any
political group or persons.
“The applicant was arrested upon
reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of
trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds,
economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimensions, and
undermining the security of Nigeria;” he said.
Awo further contended that upon
the arrest of the applicant, a detention order was obtained from a court of
competent jurisdiction to enable the agency to keep him in lawful custody for
14 days having discovered that investigations into his office will take a
little while to conclude.
For the AGF, its legal team urged
the court to decline jurisdiction on Emefiele’s request for release following
investigations into his office.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu
had on June 9 suspended the CBN governor from office, to enable investigation
into allegations against him.
The CBN Deputy Governor in charge
of Operations, Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, was subsequently directed by the
president to step in an acting capacity.
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