CENTUS NWEZE REPORTINGÂ
Department of State Service, DSS, had been advised to obey the Thursday judgement by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High court barring it from arresting, detaining or inviting the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele over alleged charges of terrorism financing and economic crimes.
Making the admonition is a member of the governing board of the National Human Rights commission, Bar. Jideani C. Jideani, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja at the weekend.
He described the judgment as another triumph of rule of law.
The Commissioner asked the DSS and other security agencies to obey and respect the decision Court.
Jideani said “dealing timeously with an applications for the enforcement of the fundamental Rights of Emefiele was a victory for the rule of law.”
He specifically asked the DSS to obey and respect the recent decision of the FCT High Court, which barred the agency and other security agencies from arresting, detaining or inviting Emefiele for questioning over alleged terrorism and other crimes.
Recall that Justice M. A. Hassan of the FCT High Court had in a judgement on the originating motion filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership to enforce the Fundamental rights of Mr. Emefiele against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Service and the Central Bank of Nigeria restrained the DSS from arresting the CBN governor.
But Jideani in a statement, commended the judiciary for accelerated handling of matter.
Jideani emphasised that “Chief Justice John Tosho of the Federal High Court and Honourable Justice M.A. Hassan of the High court of the FCT, deserve commendation for the expeditious manner in the handling of this application.
According to him, “this is what Human Rights Activists and indeed the NBA has been clamouring for. One prays that this should be accorded to all applicants under the FREP Rules irrespective of status or standing in the society.
“The SSS is a creation of the law and should be subject to the laws of the land, Mr Godwin Emefiele is not above the law, but he should not be placed below the law,” he said.