The Department of State Services (DSS) has been ordered to charge the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to court or release him on bail.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, gave the order on Thursday when it sat on the case on its jurisdiction to hear the suit filed by Emefiele challenging his arrest and detention by the DSS.

According to the court, the DSS should charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him on administrative bail.

Justice H. Muazu who gave the order, also held that the FCT High Court has original jurisdiction to preside over issues bordering on fundamental human rights.

President Bola Tinubu had on June 9, 2023, suspended Emefiele as the CBN Governor, paving the way for his arrest and subsequent detention by the DSS.

Emefiele, who was appointed the apex bank’s governor on June 4, 2014, was also at the centre of a storm in January 2023 when security operatives attempted to arrest him over allegations of terrorism financing and economic crime.

Also, the introduction of the naira redesign policy by the Emefiele-led CBN in October 2022 started on a controversial note as the then Minister Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, kicked against it barely 48 hours after it was announced.

Ahmed had stated that her ministry was not consulted and she was not aware of the monetary policy.

The reaction generated tension and uncertainty until the Presidency confirmed that Buhari approved the policy, which it said was to manage inflation, combat currency counterfeiting and ransom payment.

Early January 2023, the CBN started a cash swap programme in various local government areas to reach citizens in rural communities, who complained of the unavailability of banks in their localities.