DSS re-arrest Emefiele, after face-off over custody with Police, NCS

The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was re-arrested on Tuesday by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives after a tense confrontation with officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) at the premises of a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The re-arrest occurred moments after Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N20 million and ordered him to be remanded at a correctional center pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

Following the court ruling, DSS operatives positioned their Hilux Pick Up van, which was used to transport Emefiele to court, seemingly indicating their intention to return him to their detention center.

Emefiele’s lead counsel and other lawyers quickly raised an alarm about the planned re-arrest.

However, when prison officials tried to take him into custody, a heated clash ensued between the DSS and the prison personnel.

In the interest of avoiding further conflict, Emefiele’s legal team reluctantly allowed the DSS to defy the court order and take custody of their client.

At 03:03 pm, the DSS led the suspended CBN governor out of the courtroom and into their waiting vehicle.

Emefiele had pleaded “not guilty” to the two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal Government.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023.

The following day, the secret police confirmed that Emefiele was in their custody.