Once again, the nation’ security apparatus marketed to the whole word what they know how to do best: disorderliness, sacrilege and impunity. This time it is the State Security Service (DSS, as it is popularly but wrongly called, because there is nobody in law known as Department of State Security). For the records, Mr. Godwin Emefiele is one of the worst CBN Governors this nation ever had. The ill-conceived naira re-design policy made Nigerians (including yours sincerely) to go through hardship to the extent that Nigerians were buying naira with naira, while some Nigerians died, while looking for naira to buy basic items to take care of their families. It was not that they did not have funds in their bank accounts.
It was the same Emefiele,while still as CBN Governor that contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and all sense of morality and decency declared his intention to run for the office of the President of Nigeria and was alleged to have bought hundreds of vehicles for his presidential campaign. He took this shenanigan a step further by filing an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja; Suit NoSUIT NO.FHC/ABJ/CS/610/2022: Godwin Emefiele v. INEC & 5 Ors. praying the Court to declare that he is not disqualified by any law to contest for the Presidency of Nigeria. This is inspite of the clear provisions of section 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act which provides that “the time and activities of the Governor of the CBN shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the bank and while holding office shall not engage in any full time or part time employment or vocation whether remunerated or not except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the board and which do not conflict with or distract from their full time duties.”
It took the intervention of yours sincerely and John Aikpokpo-Martins Esq., Chairman of the NBA-SPIDEL, to join the action as interested parties, which was granted by the Court and we were joined as 5th and 6th Defendants respectively in the action. We immediately served the Plaintiff’s counsel a Notice of Preliminary Objection to the suit. Emefiele was compelled to withdraw the suit and that killed his presidential ambition. It was the same Emefiele that scorned and refused to comply with the order of the Supreme Court to allow both the old and new naira notes to remain in circulation. He was obviously encouraged by his principal, former President Buhari who in his live address to Nigerianssuomotumodified an order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It was a tragedy of leadership.
Now, Godwin Emefiele is at the receiving end of what he derived joy in doing to millions of Nigerians, some dead now. However, it is often said that an eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind. The only guarantee for the rule of law and respect for the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians is for those in leadership to also obey Court Judgments. Governor of Ebonyi State & Ors. V. Hon. Justice Isuama (2003) FWLR [PT. 169] 1210 @ 1227-1228, the Court of Appeal while stressing on the need for public officials to respect the rule of law, held that: “Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law. In a democratic society, this is meant to be a norm; it is an apostasy for government to ignore the provisions of the law and the necessary rules made to regulate matters”.
The Director General of the State Security Service must apologize to Nigerians and subject all the officers involved in the show of shame to orderly room trial. The National Human Rights Commission should not wait for formal petitions. It should investigate the violations of human rights committed by the SSS officials, who publicly assaulted the Correctional service boss and tore his shirt while they were also wielding guns and threatened to shoot lawyers that were present. The Code of Conduct Bureau should not hide under its table. It should investigate the conduct of the SSS officials, who are also public servants whose salaries are paid by tax payers. Those officers are not fit to be State Security agents. The State Security Service must also apologize to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, members of the Nigerian Bar Association and the staff of the Federal High Court for the sacrilege his officers committed within the hallowed precinct of the Court, waving guns carelessly, all because of one un-armed man, Emefiele.
For Nigerians to take the Tinubu’s administration serious on the respect for the rule of law, the President must place the Director General of the State Security Service on suspension; this is because inspite of the clear order of the Federal High Court that Godwin Emefiele should be remanded in the custody of the Correctional Service, the SSS (now known for recklessness) flouted the order of the Court and still retained custody of him. In 2019 the SSS exhibited the same disrespect to the institution of the Court when it invaded the premises of a Federal High Court to arrest OmoyeleSowore. It is now becoming the norm with the SSS.
The Charge against Emefiele is being prosecuted by lawyers from the Federal Ministry of Justice. In the absence of a sitting Attorney General of the Federation, the Solicitor-General steps in. Nigerians expect the Solicitor-General of the Federation to have directed her client (SSS) to comply with the remand order of the Court but till date, no comment from the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Security Adviser or the Presidency. This ominous sign is not good for the country, moving forward. A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN would always say that if we take care of the rule of law, the rule of law will one day take care of us.
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