A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed an application filed by the Department of State Services seeking an order to extend the detention of the embattled Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele for a fresh 14 days.
The application was discreetly filed by the DSS’ legal team on Wednesday based on an alleged new evidence it had obtained.
But Justice Hamza Muazu dismissed the application, citing an abuse of court process and the lack of jurisdiction.
The DSS’ application followed Emefiele’s re-arrest by the secret police from the court premises in Lagos, after the court had ordered his remand in a Correctional Centre while awaiting the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
DSS’ counsel, Victor Ejelonu, withdrew the matter after the judge raised questions about the court’s jurisdiction, given the exclusive rights of the Magistrate Court to grant detention orders under sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.