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JUST IN: Court Quashes DSS Move To Charge Emefiele With Terrorism, Economic Crimes

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The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday quashed moves by the Department of State Services to invite, interrogate and charge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The presiding Judge, Justice M.A. Hassan, considering the Originating Motion brought before him by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership to enforce the Fundamental rights of Mr. Emefiele, barred the secret police on ground that such move would impinge on Emefiele’s fundamental rights.

In a court papers obtained by DAILY POST, the ‘Originating Motion”, was issued against the “Attorney General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service and the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The presiding Judge also restrained the State Security Service from further harassing, humiliating, embarrassing, threatening to incarcerate or detain Mr. Emefiele over the trumped up allegations of terrorism financing and fraudulent practices.

The Court in reference to the earlier judgement of the orders of the Federal High Court in Suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022 delivered by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice J. T. Tsoho, lashed at the secret Police and declared as vindictive any continuous harassments, intimidation, threats, restriction of free movement.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Again, Emefiele Shuns Reps Summons, Lawmakers Kick

“It would constitute, abuse of right of office, surreptitious moves to arrest and humiliation of Mr. Godwin Emefiele over the trumped up allegations of terrorism financing and fraudulent practice’

“In light of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, the DSS acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Mr Emefiele in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of national security and the economy,” the court averred.

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Shaibu Impeachment: Panel Fixes Date For Commencement Of Sitting

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The seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, to probe the impeachment petition against deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, has fixed April 3, 2024 for the commencement of its sitting.

Administrative secretary of the panel, George Odidi, disclosed this in a statement dated March 28, 2024 and made available to newsmen in Benin City.

Odidi said the panel would hold its sittings at Judges Conference Room, New High Court Complex, Benin City.

READ ALSO: CJ Has Seven Days To Set Up Panel On Shaibu – Edo Assembly

He said parties or their counsel are expected to be present while the complainant is expected to be ready to present its case.

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The statement reads, “Take notice that consequent upon the inauguration of the above panel by His Lordship the Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice D.I. Okungbowa in line with section 188 subsection 5 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the said Panel shall commence sitting at Judges Conference room, New High Court Complex, Benin City on Wednesday 3″day of April, 2024 at 10:00Am prompt.

READ ALSO: Again, Shaibu Loses Bid To Stop Impeachment

“Parties and /or their counsel are expected to be present on that day while the complainant is expected to be ready to present it’s case on that day.”

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, had on Friday, March 22, 2024, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations in the impeachment notice served on the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, in line with the resolution of the State House of Assembly.

Members of the panel are Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd), Professor Theresa Akpoghome, Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, Surveyor Andrew Oliha, Idris Abdulkareen , President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.

 

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I Was Tied For Three Days, Abducted Lagos Editor Recounts Ordeal

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The abducted Editor of FirstNews Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, on Thursday, recounted his ordeal at the hands of the military personnel who abducted him from his Lagos home.

Military authorities had earlier on Thursday, yielded to pressure and released Olatunji, who was abducted from his home in Lagos State on Friday, March 15, 2024.

The PUNCH confirmed that he was released to some media stakeholders, including Yomi Odunuga of The Nation newspaper and Iyobosa Uwugiaren of Thisday Newspaper in Abuja after sustained pressure from the media.

They were asked to guarantee that they would make Olatunji available if needed again.

The International Press Institute, the Nigeria Guild of Editors, and Olatunji’s employers had in separate statements faulted his incarceration, asking authorities to either release the editor or charge him to court.

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Narrating his ordeal after his release at a press briefing organised by the leaderships of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists and IPI in Abuja, Olatunji said he was blindfolded and flown to the Federal Capital Territory where he was moved to a cell in handcuffs and leg chains for almost three days.

He said, “Someone came claiming to be from the military. He identified himself as Colonel Lawal. Immediately, he seized my phones.

“I went to the room to dress up. By the time I got downstairs, I saw soldiers inside the compound taking positions. Outside the gate, I saw about three vehicles with Air Force personnel, Army, Defence Intelligence Agency, and others all fully armed.

READ ALSO:Israel Bombs Gaza, Fights Hamas Around Hospitals

“I was handcuffed and taken straight to the office of the National Air Defence Corps where we waited for three hours. I did not know that they were waiting for an aircraft to pick me up to Abuja.

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“When the aircraft landed, I was blindfolded and moved to the aircraft, and we landed in Abuja shortly. I was leg cuffed also. They removed my clothes and I was left with my boxers. I was taken to Cell 9.

“There, I was left with leg and handcuffs. And at a point, one of the officers came and tightened the right leg and the right hand, and I was there groaning in pain. They did not loosen it until about two or three days after.

“Up till now, I could still feel the pains in my hands and legs.”

READ ALSO: Man Stabs Four To Death In US

Olatunji said those behind his ordeal were close to the government based on the questions he was asked.

He added, “They were asking me questions about certain stories that FirstNews had published.

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“They first told me that I was one of those abusing the Chief of Defence Intelligence (Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye). They did not say much about that.”

He said they also asked him about a story FirstNews had published about the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu (Mr Femi Gbajabiamila), which he described as a “major thing”.

“That is why I told some people earlier that those behind my arrest are people in the corridors of power who are not happy with FirstNews is doing and are bent on taking their own pound of flesh,” he added.

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JUST IN: Secondus, Sekibo, Others Declare Support For Tinubu, Fubara

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A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus; and members of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party for the 2023 general elections in Rivers State have declared loyalty and support for President Bola Tinubu and the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

A former Minister of Transportation and the Director-General, PDP-PCC Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, made the declaration during a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Nigerian Lady Set To Drive From London To Lagos

Present at the briefing were Secondus; former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Austin Opara; Celestine Omehia, former deputy governor of the state, Tele Ikuru; Senator Lee Maeba; and former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson. among others.

The council supported the PDP presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, in the last elections.

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