Nigeria’s Ethnic Youth Leaders Hail FCT Court’s Verdict on Emefiele 

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The Nigerian Ethnic Youths Leaders Council (NEYLC) has described  the verdict of an Abuja High Court that barred the Department of State Services (DSS) from inviting, arresting and detaining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over fabricated allegations of terrorism funding and economic crimes, as a landmark judgment. 

Justice M.A. Hassan had while delivering the judgment last Thursday in a suit seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and all officers under their control from instigating the arrest of Emefiele, barred the DSS from inviting, arresting, detaining or charging the CBN governor with any allegation of terrorism or fraudulent act.

The ethnic nationalities group said the judgment was a landmark one that would remain indelible in the history of the country.

The NEYLC is made up of the Arewa Consultative Youths Movement (ACYM), Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Movement, Oduduwa Youths and Middle Belt Youths.

They made their position known in a statement by the Ohanaeze Secretary-General and Head of Coalition’s Secretariat, Nwada Ike Chiama.

Part of the statement read: “We, ethnic youth leaders in this country welcome and celebrate the decision of the Abuja High Court on the wrongful move by the DSS to put Dr Emefiele behind bars and prosecute him on trump-up charges.

“This judgment has further proved that the judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man.

“The court verdict is not only a landmark one, it is legendary and commendable.

“We urge the DSS and its leadership to allow common sense to prevail and obey the court judgment to the letter.

“They must, in respect for the judiciary and the nation’s constitution, desist from harassing Dr. Emefiele. They must allow him to concentrate on his national assignment and deliver on the lofty reforms of the apex bank.”