The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has dismissed a petition by a Civil Society Organization, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, which alleged that the Economic ad Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) attempted to forcefully remove the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele from the custody of Nigeria Correctional Centre in Kuje , Abuja
When the matter came up before the House Committee on Thursday , the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Haliru Nababa, denied the allegation that the EFCC and DSS attempted to forcefully abduct Emefiele, from the custody of the Correctional Centre, Kuje, Abuja.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Mike Etaba, however, dismissed the petition on the grounds that it was subjudice when it came on for its first hearing on Thursday.
The Director Legal and Prosecution Department of EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), also informed the committee it was inappropriate to entertain the petition as it bordered a subsisting court matter.
Nababa, who was represented by the Assistant Controller-General in Charge of Operations, Nwakeze Emmanuel, said: “As far as we are concerned, we are not aware of any alleged attempt to forcefully release Dr Emefiele. Emefiele is still in our custody, bubbling.”
Dismissing the petition, the Committee Chairman, Hon Etaba said: “This matter is in court, we can’t go ahead with this matter because it is subjudice to us. This matter is hereby dismissed from this committee.
The EFCC’s Director of Legal, Tahir SAN , had earlier faulted the propriety of an NGO, instead of the lawyers to Emefiele, writing a petition on the former CBN Governor when the matter is in court, saying that the proper place to raise any issue is the court.
He said: “The petition which we perused borders on a pending court case. There is a subsisting criminal charge against Mr Godwin Emefiele on whose behalf the petitioners have petitioned.
“I am wondering whether it is appropriate given the fact that it borders on a subsisting court matter for this committee to by way of a public hearing delve into the matter more so that Mr. Emefiele is ably represented by very senior lawyers in this matter, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and this petition did not emanate from them and in any event, we believe if the allegations have substance as the petitioners would want this committee to believe, it would have been ventilated before the honourable court before which this case is pending because they are alleging case of contempt
“If it is a case of contempt as it is being alleged, I thought the appropriate forum to ventilate that issue should be before the honourable court other than being it before this committee given the sub judice nature of this case. The court made an order admitting him to bail on conditions, which to the best of our knowledge, HE is yet to fulfill the bail conditions. The correctional centre can confirm that he (Emefiele) is in their custody ostensibly because of the reason of non-fulfillment of the bail conditions.”
