News

Detention: Court Fixes Date For Emefiele’s Right Enforcement Suit

Published

3 years ago

June 20, 2023

Editor

An Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, on Tuesday, slated July 13 to rule on a fundamental rights enforcement suit that was brought before it by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Hamza Muazu reserved his judgement on the matter after he listened to counsel for all the parties in the suit.

Cited as 1st to 3rd Respondents in the suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/6450/23, are the Attorney General of the Federation, the Director General of State Security Service and the State Security Service.

It will be recalled that the court had last Friday, ordered that the suspended CBN governor, who has been in custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, since June 10, should be granted access to his lawyers and family members.

Specifically, Justice Muazu, held that; “The lawyers of the Applicant shall have access to the Applicant immediately and regularly at reasonable time, pending the determination of the application.”

At the resumed proceedings in the matter on Tuesday, Emefiele, through his team of lawyers led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, prayed the court to enforce his fundamentally guaranteed rights to liberty and freedom.

The senior lawyer maintained that the continued detention of his client in custody of the security agency, amounted to gross infringement of his human rights under both the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

Daudu, SAN, insisted that the court was imbued with the requisite powers to order Emefiele’s release from the custody of the DSS.

Besides, he argued that all the allegations that have been levelled against his client were state offences that could be entertained by the FCT High Court.

He, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss preliminary objections and counter-affidavits the Respondents filed to oppose the fundamental right enforcement action.

However, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Tijjani Ghazali, SAN, drew the attention of the court to process his client filed to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

While urging Justice Muazu to hands-off the case, the AGF’s lawyer argued that Emefiele’s arrest and detention by the DSS was an administrative decision of the Executive Arm of the government.

Ghazali, SAN, further insisted that going by the nature of the reliefs the Applicant is seeking, the FCT high court was not the appropriate court to hear the suit.

More so, he prayed the court to ignore Emefiele’s allegation that he was unlawfully detained, stressing that his detention was based on a valid order of an FCT Chief Magistrate court.

On his part, Mr. I. Awo, who appeared for the DSS and its Director General, equally applied for the suit to be dismissed with substantial cost awarded against the Applicant.

Awo further argued that the arrest and detention of the suspended CBN governor followed the due process of the law.

After he had listened to all the parties, Justice Muazu adjourned the matter for judgement.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

10 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria

Published

20 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.

He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.

“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.

“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.

“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.

DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.