Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja has ruled in favor of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, ordering the Federal Government to pay him the sum of 100 million naira as compensation for the violation of his right to personal liberty.
Delivering the ruling on January 8, the court declared Emefiele’s prolonged detention without trial a blatant infringement of his fundamental rights. The judgment also includes a restraining order against the Federal Government and its agents, prohibiting the re-arrest or detention of Emefiele without a court order.
Emefiele initiated a fundamental human rights suit against the Federal government due to his extended custody by the Department of State Services. In his plea, he sought a court order directing the respondents to pay him N1 billion in damages and to prevent any further arrest or detention without proper legal authorization.
The former CBN chief was detained on June 10, 2023, shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.
