2023: Court Refuses Emefiele’s request for restraining order against INEC, AGF

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By Kenneth Atavti

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday refused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele’s request to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami preventing him from his Presidential Ambition

Emefiele had through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome SAN applied for an order of status quo ante bellum to be made against INEC and AGF so that he would not be made to resign from office until 30 days to the general election.

In an ex-parte application argued yesterday, Emefiele denied being a political appointee but a Public servant not caught by section 84 (12) of the new Electoral Act 2022.

The CBN governor asked the court to invoke section 318 of the 1999 Constitution to bar the defendants from asking him to vacate office until 30 days to the February 2023 Presidential election.

Emefiele expressed apprehension that sale and submission of Presidential nomination form would expire on Wednesday and that unless the INEC and AGF are ordered to maintain status ante bellum as at May 5 when he filed the suit, he would be made to vacate office before his form would be accepted by the appropriate authority.

However, in a brief ruling, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed turned down the request for the order.

Instead, the Judge ordered him to put the defendants on notice and also serve court processes on the defendants.

Justice Mohammed ordered the defendants to appear before him on May 12, 2022 and show cause on why the request should not be granted.

Embattled Emefiele, has asked the court to declare him eligible to participate in the 2023 presidential election.

Emefiele’s request is in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/610/2022 and filed on May 5, 2022.

The suit was filed two days before the CBN governor said he had not made up his mind to run for office of the president.

Three support groups bought him the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination form worth N100 million.