A High Court in the FCT on Thursday struck out an application filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking an order to further detain the suspended former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, for an additional 14 days.
According to the DSS, they had uncovered fresh evidence that warranted the request for the extended detention order.
The application, marked FCT/HC/M/12105/2023, was heard by Justice Hamza Muazu after being quietly filed by DSS lawyers yesterday and brought before the vacation judge today.
However, Justice Muazu struck out the application, deeming it an abuse of court process and lacking in jurisdiction.
When questioned by the judge regarding the court's jurisdiction, particularly in light of the provisions of Sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which vests exclusive rights in the Magistrates' Court to grant detention orders, the DSS counsel, Victor Ejelonu, withdrew the prayer.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Emefiele had been granted bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum by the Federal High Court in Lagos State.
The former CBN Governor is facing two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, as charged by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo.