National

Reps Probe EFCC Attempts To Rearrest Emefiele From Kuje Prison

Published

6 months ago

November 28, 2023

The House of Representatives is to probe the alleged forceful attempts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to extract former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, from Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) custody at its Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja.

The action was taken in defiance of an existing court order granting him bail.

The resolution arose from a petition submitted by the civil society organization Centre for Social Justice Equity And Transparency (CESJET), dated November 27, 2023.

The CSO addressed the House through deputy spokesman, Hon. Philip Agbese, asserting that the security agencies’ actions constitute a direct violation of the rule of law, ignoring the orders of a competent Court of Law.

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The CSO decried the perceived persecution faced by the former CBN governor, emphasizing the need for intervention to prevent the abuse of the court process. In the petition titled ‘IS THE EFCC PURSUING PROSECUTION OR PERSECUTION?’ and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Joshua Abah, the CSO expressed concern over the EFCC’s actions.

The petition highlighted the court’s bail grant to Emefiele on November 24, 2023, with a bail amount of 300 million naira and two sureties who must own properties in the Maitama District of the FCT. It also pointed out the reduction of charges against Emefiele from 20 to 6 counts, following various unsubstantiated charges by state agencies.

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The CSO disclosed how state-owned security agencies, particularly the EFCC and the Directorate of State Security Service (DSSS), continued to arrest and re-arrest Emefiele without grounds. Despite the court’s assurance from the EFCC Counsel that Emefiele would not be re-arrested on the same charges, EFCC operatives were reportedly seen at Kuje Correction Centre attempting to re-arrest him.

The CSO emphasized that bail is a constitutionally guaranteed right and urged the House of Representatives to intervene, calling for the EFCC to be held accountable for actions undermining the rule of law. The CSO condemned the abuse of court processes and the persecution of a citizen presumed innocent until proven guilty before a competent Court of Law.