Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has written a petition to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, demanding the arrest and prosecution of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, Director General of State Security Services (SSS).
Emefiele, through his lawyer Peter Abang, wants the DSS Director General arrested for his alleged role in a failed plot to frame CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele for terrorism financing.
Emefiele’s lawyer requested a full-scale criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the failed attempt by the State Security Services (otherwise known as the Department of State Services) to frame the Governor of the CBN on allegations and fabricated terrorism financing charges in a petition dated December 30, 2022 and addressed to the AGF.
The petition reads;
In view of the above suit filed by the State Security Services, which the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Hon. Justice John Tsoho, delivered its ruling on December 9, 2022 , a certified copy of the Ruling is attached and we are by this letter respectfully requesting that your good offices commence a full scale criminal inquiry into the circumstances Ieading to the failed attempt by the State Security Services (otherwise known as the Department of State Services) to frame the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on allegations and trumped up terrorism financing charges as well as other sundry offences.
We also request that your offices conduct a thorough investigation and ultimately arrest and prosecute all persons and/or parties connected to the failed rogue operation in the overall interest of Nigeria.
Note that this letter serves as a notice to commence an action for mandamus to compel your offices to arrest and prosecute all persons and/or parties who are connected in the event that you fail at accede to our request within 7 days from the date of service of this letter to you.
Background
Recall that on Monday, December 19, 2022, reports surfaced that the DSS had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to arrest and detain Godwin Emefiele.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the High Court, said the secret police did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes when he denied an ex parte motion filed by an applicant in the absence of the respondent.
According to this online news platform, the DSS move was met with massive protests from human rights lawyers and civil society groups, including the Arewa Youth Consultative Movement, which raised the alarm about an alleged plot by the DSS to frame Emefiele for terrorism sponsorship against Nigeria.
In another ruling, a High Court in Abuja barred the DSS and Police from arresting and detaining Godwin Emefiele.
The court also restrained the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who are listed as the first, second, and fifth defendants, respectively.
The order was issued by Justice MA Hassan, the presiding judge, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership, with the case number FCT/HC/CV/GAR/41/2022.
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