The Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday said it had filed charges in court against Nigeria’s former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, following an earlier High Court order to charge or release him within seven days.
Godwin Emiefele had served as CBN Governor under the administration of Ex Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
He was suspended in early June by President Bola Tinubu, shortly after he was sworn in. The bank governor was then arrested the following day.
Details were not given by the DSS of the charges against Mr. Emefiele but, a statement released by the secret police said he had been detained on the strength of “suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution”, the BBC said.
Also, according to Reuters, it has seen papers filed by government lawyers which suggest misappropriation of funds is one of the charges he is facing.
Mr Emefiele will remain in custody until he appears in court, but no date has been set.
On 20 June, he had asked the High Court to order his release saying there was no basis for his continuous detention.
Following the governor’s suspension, the president ended the policy of multiple foreign exchange rates and currency restrictions introduced by Mr Emefiele – moves that were welcomed by investors.