A Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the Department of State Services' director general, Yusuf Bichi, to allow suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele access to his family and attorneys.
After being suspended by President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, Emefiele was taken into custody by the DSS.
On Friday, Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT high court issued the directive while reiterating that Emefiele's access is a fundamental right.
According to the enrolled order, dated June 16, 2023,
“The lawyers of the applicant shall have access to the applicant immediately. And regularly at a reasonable time, pending the determination of the application.”
Following an application submitted by Emefiele's attorney, J.B. Saudi SAN, who informed the court that the DSS had not responded to earlier letters asking for access to his client, the court issued the order.
I. Awo Esq., the attorney for the second and third respondents, said that the DSS had not previously been known to deny such requests and that it was improper to deny access.
Awo was confident, nevertheless, that the security agency would follow the court order and permit the named attorneys and family members to visit Emefiele.
The application was not opposed by the Federation's attorney general's office.
In the meantime, an extension of time to file their responses to the Originating Motion was requested by the attorneys for the DSS and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The motion was granted, and the case was further postponed to Tuesday, June 19, 2023, when the substantive suit would be heard.
