In a recent ruling, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Federal Government to pay N100 million to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The court found the government guilty of violating Emefiele’s right to personal liberty and declared his prolonged detention without trial as a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights.
The judgment stems from a fundamental human rights suit filed by Emefiele, who had been detained in the custody of the Department of State Services following his arrest on June 10, 2023, shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.
The court not only awarded the financial compensation but also imposed a restraint, preventing the Federal Government and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without a court order.
Emefiele sought N1 billion in damages and requested the court to prevent any future arrests or detentions. The ruling highlights a significant legal victory for the former CBN governor in his quest for justice against the Federal Government’s actions.
