DSS plans to re-arrest Emefiele, lawyers allege

The apex bank recently extended the deadline for the swap of the newly designed N1,000, N500, and N200 notes from January 31st 2023 to 10th of February following an outcry from Nigerians. The Central Bank of Nigeria, Governor Godwin Emefiele appeared before the House of Representatives committee in Abuja, on the new naira redesign and swap policy on Tuesday, he said banks will still accept the old notes after the deadline. He said subject to Section 20, Subsection 3 of the CBN Act 2007 and even after the old currencies have lost legal tender status, the CBN will continue to accept the old notes. (Photo by Olukayode Jaiyeola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Lawyers to the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, have alleged that the Department of State Service (DSS) is planning to re-arrest their client.

Emefiele’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), on Tuesday, told journalists at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Daudu raised the alarm about the DSS’s alleged plan to re-arrest the embattled former CBN governor despite the bail granted him by the court.

Shortly after the ruling, DSS operatives strategically positioned their Hilux Pick Up van used in bringing Emefiele to court, fuelling speculations that they wanted to take him back to their detention centre.

This prompted Daudu and other lawyers to Emefiele to raise an alarm about their client’s planned re-arrest by the secret police.

The Federal High Court had earlier on Tuesday granted bail to the suspended CBN chief in the sum of N20m with one surety in like sum.

Emefiele was granted bail by Justice Nicholas Oweibo after listening to the submissions of his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The court said the surety must be owner of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and must not be less than Level 16 in the Nigerian Civil Service.

Also, Emefiele must deposit his international passport to the court.

Justice Oweibo rejected the Federal Government’s claim that Emefiele was a flight risk, ruling that the government failed to provide any fact to support its claim.

Emefiele was suspended as CBN governor on June 9, 2023, which came just one day after, the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that he was in their custody.
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