By Olugbenga Salami
The people of Asaba, Delta State country home of the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele went into wild jubilation following news of an order granted by a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court for his release from detention.
The High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Department of State Services, DSS to immediately release Emefiele from detention within seven days.
The presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, gave the order after hearing the arguments of all parties in the matter.
Reacting to the court ruling, Asaba indigenes reportedly trooped out in hundreds to celebrate the verdict, hailing the court for proving to be the last hope of the common man.
One of the indigenes, Ogidi Emmanuel J., who spoke on behalf of the jubilant crowd over the court ruling, described it as a welcome development, saying that the illegal detention of the suspended CBN governor without proof of the crime he committed was unfair and against the rule of law.
He lamented that the DSS operatives were becoming more brazen and tyrannical in their behaviours, claiming that Emefiele’s crime was initiating several policies that have been beneficial to Nigerians.
Emefiele, through his counsel, challenged his detention by the DSS and the denial of access to members of his family and counsel.
Justice Muazu in his ruling on Thursday in Abuja observed that detention no matter how short is a breach of fundamental rights and it must be determined whether detention is legal or illegal.
While ruling that the applicant be released on bail, the judge gave the respondent one week to charge the applicant to court or release him.
