By Abubakar Y. Ojima
The Northern Forum (CNF) has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to appeal a High Court decision barring the agency from arresting Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Other groups from the North and Middle Belt, however, have condemned Emefiele’s ordeals, saying it is an inappropriate way to reward a hardworking public servant.
According to the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and the Middle Belt Youths (MBY), CBN interventions in several sectors under Emefiele saved the Nigerian economy over the last six years.
During a press conference in Kaduna State yesterday, CNF spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam stated that Emefiele is not above the law and that state security should be allowed to do their job.
On Thursday, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Garki issued an order prohibiting the State Security Service (SSS) and its agents from arresting, detaining, or restricting the movement of the CBN governor due to alleged ties to terrorism.
The Federal High Court’s Chief Judge, John Tsoho, ruled that the SSS failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant the issuance of an arrest warrant against Emefiele.
The SSS “acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Emefile in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of national security and economy,” said Justice M. A. Hassan, who issued the order while ruling on a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership (ITFAGL).
While calling on the CBN governor to resign because his character was already called into question, Abdulsalam said the DSS had done a good job over time, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering, and that the case of the apex bank should not be an exception.
He went on to say that Emefiele spending N58.6 billion to print N2.5 billion notes at a time when Nigeria was in the grip of a financial crisis, including spiraling inflation and unemployment, is absurd, and that the sooner the CBN boss is forced to face the law and answer the allegations, the better.
He said: “Sequel to the above, we, therefore, resolved that the DSS should ignore and immediately appeal the Federal High Court’s injunction and go ahead with the planned arrest of Emefele since it’s in the interest of national security.
“As patriots, who wish to always stand on the path of righteousness, we won’t take sides with those calling for the sack of the DSS boss. We rather ask that he should be allowed to carry out his duties without interference by anybody, especially when it comes to the issue of national security and the general well being of Nigerians. Those asking the DG to give details of Emefiele’s underhand dealings should know that security is a tactical issues and evidence can’t be made public, so that criminals won’t be alerted and made to destroy evidence.”
