The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been charged with alleged “criminal infractions” after spending a month in detention, announced the Department of State Services (DSS), the country’s secret police agency, on Thursday.
According to Peter Afunanya, the spokesman for the DSS, Emefiele’s charges were not explicitly specified in the statement released in the capital city, Abuja. However, back in 2022, the police agency had accused him of terrorism financing and economic crimes, both of which carry severe penalties.
The decision to charge Emefiele comes after President Bola Tinubu, who took office in June, ordered his suspension, citing an ongoing investigation into the central bank governor’s office and plans for financial sector reforms.
Emefiele was promptly taken into custody following the directive and has been detained since, leading him to take legal action against the secret police, alleging illegal detention and a violation of his human rights.
Earlier on Thursday, a high court in Abuja ruled on Emefiele’s application, directing that he must either be charged within one week or released from custody.
“The continued detention of the applicant cannot be justified in the absence of any charge against him. At the very least, justice demands that the applicant (Emefiele) should be released on administrative bail,” stated the local judge.
The duration of Emefiele’s trial remains uncertain, but high-profile trials in Nigeria are known to last for several months.
The secret police agency assured that it would handle the matter with professionalism, justice, and fairness.
The situation has garnered significant attention, given Emefiele’s prominent role as the suspended governor of Nigeria’s central bank, and it remains to be seen how the case will unfold in the coming weeks.
