Court orders DSS to allow suspended Emefiele access to his family, lawyers

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered the Director General, Department of State Services (DSS) to grant access to lawyers and family members of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to see him.

Justice Hamza Muazu of the court made the order upon an oral application by counsel to the Emefiele, Joseph Daudu (SAN) with Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) in suit marked No: FCT/HC/CV/6450/23.

Listed as respondents are the attorney general of the federation (AGF) and  director general of DSS.

The enrolled order dated June 16, 2023, reads: “The lawyers of the applicant shall have access to the applicant immediately. and regularly at reasonable time, pending the determination of the application.”

In his submission, Daudu informed the court that he had written letters to the respondents particularly on June 14, 2023, for the purpose of taking further instruction from him, but the DSS had refused to respond to the application.

Responding, counsel to the second and third respondents I. Awo informed the court that the DSS does not have the penchant for refusing such a request and that it was wrong to do so.

Awo assured that he was certain the security service would abide by the order of court and grant access to the listed lawyers and family members of Mr. Emefiele to see him, while counsel to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation did not oppose the application.

Meanwhile, counsel to the DSS as well as the AGF requested for extension of time to file their respective responses to the originating motion which was granted and the suit was further adjourned till June 20,  2023 for hearing of the substantive suit.

Godwin Emefiele was taken into custody by the DSS hours after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office.