The Middle Belt youth leader also prayed the court to order the DSS to issue a public apology in two national dailies for alleged illegal arrest and detention.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Rights activist, Meliga Godwin, has sued the Department of State Services (DSS) before an FCT High Court for allegedly breaching his fundamental rights through illegal arrest and detention.
On December 19, 2022, Godwin, who is the President of Middle Belt Youth Forum, criticised the DSS for its attempt to obtain an ex parte application to arrest and detain the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over alleged terrorism charges.
The activist had at the media briefing condemned the actions of the DSS and described it as a hatchet job.
In a motion for the enforcement of his fundamental rights with suit No: FCT/HC/CV/1034/2023, filed by his lawyer, Chibuzo Ezike, Godwin is asking the court for his unconditional release by the DSS.
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The applicant prayed the court to order his release from detention and also make an order directing the DSS and its Director-General, who is a party in the suit, to pay him the sum of N500 million as damages.
The Middle Belt youth leader also prayed the court to order the DSS to issue a public apology in two national dailies for the alleged illegal arrest and detention.
Godwin further prayed the court to declare his arrest and detention from January 8 till the time of filing the suit as a breach of his fundamental rights, unconstitutional and of no effect.
However, there is no evidence that Emefiele, who has been outside the country on what some refer to as self-imposed exile, has returned to the country.
A source who pleaded anonymity told TheNiche on Tuesday morning, “I spoke with Governor Emefiele yesterday on phone. He is still in the United States and yet to return.
“He hopes to be back before the end of the month, though.”
Asked why the CBN Governor is seemingly on AWOL (absence without official leave) from his duty post, the source said he does not know.
“I can’t say for sure what the issues are. A lot of things are hazy. But whatever it is that is keeping him away at a time like this must be a serious issue.”
Debunking the claim that Emefiele has been arrested, another source told TheNiche: “That story of arrest cannot be true. I don’t know where the lawyer got his information from. Maybe he is trying to preempt the DSS. But Emefiele is such a big fry that if he is arrested, Nigerians will know.”
Attempts to confirm from the DSS was unsuccessful.
The secret police’s spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, neither picked his call nor responded to the text message sent to his phone.
