The Department of State Services, on Tuesday, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that the ousted CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, will flee the country if granted bail.
The Attorney General of the Federation also supported the argument of the DSS, describing Emefiele as a “flight risk.”.
It was gathered that the suspended apex bank boss is challenging his detention by the DSS and denying him seeing his family members and lawyers.
The Informant247 had earlier reported that Emefiele was on Friday, June 9, suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was subsequently arrested and detained by the DSS on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
Meanwhile, at the resumption of hearing on Tuesday, both DSS and OAGF stated made the comments in separate counter-affidavits filed in a fundamental rights enforcement suit by the suspended CBN chief.
OAGF, in its own affidavit, dismissed the report that Emefiele was being held for terrorist-related crimes. It also said he was not being victimised for his involvement in politics and the botched naira redesign policy.
The OAGF said: “Issues of terrorism financing and fraudulent activities are not part of the grounds for the arrest and detention of the applicant.
“The respondents have not violated the applicant’s right to live in any way, his life is not in danger. The respondents did not subject the applicant to any judicial adjudication to warrant the allegation of denial of a fair hearing.
“With the remand order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, the said violation of the applicant’s right to freedom of movement does not arise.
On its part, the DSS, stated that Emefiele was being held pursuant to an order of a competent court, adding that the suspended CBN boss was arrested “upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimension and undermining the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Tijani Gazal, who represented the OAGF, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that Emefiele’s allegation of unlawful detention was unfounded, adding that the suspended CBN governor was being detained on the order of an FCT Chief Magistrates Court.
He also told the court that the OAGF (listed as the 1st respondent) was challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.
Justice Hamza Muazu, however, adjourned until July 13 for a ruling, after entertaining arguments from parties.
