Alleged terrorism funding: Court stops DSS from arresting Emefiele
…As DSS warns Nigerians against being used to ‘undermine’ its investigations
A Federal High Court in Abuja has prevented the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting and detaining the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice JT Tsoho who declined the motion ex parte — filed by an applicant in the absence of the respondent — informed that the DSS had no concrete evidence to back its claims that Emefiele, the CBN Governor, was a financier for terrorism or had engaged in economic crimes.
The judge noted that he should have been taken into confidence if there was any evidence to back the allegations in the application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022.
According to the source,“The honourable judge also wondered why the name of the respondent was given simply as ‘Godwin Emefiele’ without a material disclosure that he is the same person as the CBN Governor, a highly ranking public official who occupies an extremely sensitive position.”
Feelers have it that the plan to arrest Emefiele may have arisen from the impact the redesign of the Naira and limit on cash withdrawals is likely to have on vote buying in the 2023 elections.
DSS has since warned Nigerians against being used to ‘undermine’ its investigations following the incident.
The DSS Spokesperson, Peter Afunanya in a statement issued on Monday, noted that said the service will not be distracted by those seeking to use ‘propaganda’ to undermine its lawful investigations.
According to him, one of the duties of the DSS is the “investigation of matters of national security dimension. It has always discharged this responsibility in the overall interest of Nigerian citizens.
“As such, the service will continue to disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment.
“While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased. It will not, by any means, succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it.
“It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.
“Given not to join issues, the service warns those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions. Similarly, it urges members of the public to disregard the vituperations and rantings of misguided elements and not allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.
“Notably, these elements should remember the famous axiom that ‘you will only deceive some people, some of the time, but not all people, all the time.
“To put it succinctly, the service will not be distracted by persons and/or groups from carrying out its duties to the Nation, citizens, and, President and Commander-in-Chief.”
