The State Security Service has been accused of “instigating” President Muhammadu Buhari to sanction an attack against Godwin Emefiele over salacious allegations of terrorism financing and economic sabotage.

The group, Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership, sought an order at the Garki Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, claiming that SSS had violated the law by illegally obtaining Mr Buhari’s consent to take action against the CBN governor.

The SSS “acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating” Mr Buhari against Mr Emefiele “in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of national security and economy,” a part of the declaration granted by Maryam Hassan said on December 29.

Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Inspector-General of Police and the CBN were named also named as respondents in the suit, alongside the SSS, filings said. The group that filed the suit has no known ties to Mr Emefiele, but Peoples Gazette has confirmed that the governor knew about the order and received a copy immediately it was delivered.

Judge Hassan granted the reliefs of the applicant with an order declaring illegal and vindictive any move to arrest and humiliate Mr Emefiele over proof-lacking allegations of terrorism financing and fraudulent practices.

Such move will be regarded as a “flagrant breach of his rights to personal liberty, dignity of the human person, right to policy making powers, freedom of thought, conscience and religion and movement,” per the order on the motion first filed on December 19.  

Last week, the Chief Judge of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho declined to grant a warrant for Mr Emefiele’s arrest, slamming the SSS for failing to provide any proof to substantiate the allegations in its information. The judge also said he was not taken into confidence by the domestic intelligence, warning that attempts to move against Mr Emefiele without solid constitutional process could wreak havoc on the nation’s economy.

Allegations have flared that the covert police secured the backing of Mr Buhari and other high-ranking government officials to launch an attack against the CBN governor. The president’s support may have emboldened the onslaught against Mr Emefiele.

Mr Emefiele’s decision to redesign the naira and limit cash withdrawals, presumably intended to curb vote-buying at the 2023 general elections, may have earned him strong political adversaries and landed him in a war with other loyalists of the regime.

The CBN governor was, however, still hibernating in the U.S. and has yet to return to the country upon learning the SSS had been positioned at strategic locations around the nation to bring him into custody. 

Additionally, his relatives were also being closely monitored in the event Mr Emefiele showed up, The Gazette learnt.

It is unclear whether the SSS, with its notorious history of disregarding judicial pronouncements, would abide by the latest court order not to arrest the apex bank governor.

Both the CBN and the SSS did not return requests seeking comments.