UK Lawmaker Kicks Against DSS Plot To Arrest CBN’s Emefiele

A member of the British House of Lords in the United Kingdom Parliament, Lord Daniel Hannan, has called on Nigerian political elites to respect the independence of its institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ahead of the 2023 general election.

Lord Hannan, a member of the Board of Trade and Conservative Peer and Baron of Kingsclere, advised democrats and the political elites to join the Federal Government of Nigeria in supporting these institutions.

The lawmaker stated this on Wednesday while answering questions in the UK Parliament.

Naija News reports that Hannan’s comment is coming amidst reported plots to arrest and prosecute the Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged money laundering.

The DSS had in an ex parte application before the Federal High Court, Abuja, sought the court’s order to arrest and detain Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing amongst others.

The court in its ruling on December 9, had declined to grant a request by the DSS to arrest Emefiele, stating that sufficient evidence was not brought before it to warrant the granting of the order.

Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, who delivered the ruling held that the secret police has not presented any concrete evidence to support its application.

Speaking in the UK Parliament, Hannan said the rule of law, due process and the independence of public officials must be protected by all.

The lawmaker slammed moves by the political elites in Nigeria to witch-hunt Emefiele over the redesigning of naira and the accompanying policy of cash withdraw limitations.

Hannan said, “I am not (a) Nigerian. It is not for me to say whether it was time for a redesign of naira notes or whether such a change will make elections cleaner. But I do feel that friends of Nigeria, and friends of Nigerian democracy, should defend the rule of law there.

“At a time when democracy is in retreat globally, we all have a stake in Nigeria’s success. The country is Africa’s greatest economy, Africa’s greatest population and Africa’s greatest hope.

“That is why I have raised the issue of the attempt to detain Emefiele, in the Parliament. And that is why I hope that democrats on all sides will join Nigeria in supporting the independence of its institutions in the run-up to the 2023 elections – including, of course, the Central Bank.”