The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has awarded the sum of N100 million against the Federal Government, in favour of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for the violation of his right to personal liberty.
In a ruling on Monday, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi also declared Emefiele’s prolonged detention without trial, as a violation of his fundamental rights.
The court also restrained the Federal Government and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without an order of court.
The judgment was given in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the former CBN governor following his prolonged detention in the custody of the Department of State Services.
Emefiele had asked the court to order the respondents to pay the sum of N1 billion damages and to restrain them from further arresting and or detaining him.
The embattled former CBN governor was arrested on June 10, 2023 shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.