Abuja Court Rejects Fresh DSS Request To Keep Emefiele in Detention

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja has struck out an ex parte application filed by the Department of State Services, DSS to secure an order to detain the suspended Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, for a further 14 days based on fresh evidence they have uncovered.

On the application, Judge Edward Ekpo had questioned counsel to the DSS, Victor Ejelonu, on the court’s jurisdiction, in view of the provisions of Sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which vests exclusive rights on the Magistrate Court to grant detention order.

The DSS counsel thereby withdrew the application which was subsequently struck out by the judge on account of lack of jurisdiction.

It will be recalled that Mr Emefiele was on Tuesday rearrested by the DSS after a Federal High Court in Lagos had granted him bail in a case of alleged illegal possession of firearms.

Are they so desperate to detain Emefiele that they approach the nearest court instead of going to the right court? They approached high court instead of Magistrate court. The DSS should know bwtwtr aut the laws of the country