Central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, appears to have found a way around retaining his position as the apex bank’s boss while also vying for the country’s president.
The Delta State High Court sitting in Kwale division has granted an order restraining the Board of Central Bank of Nigeria and Independent National Electoral Commission from stopping the CBN governor.
Emefiele had gone to the court to obtain a Court order to enable him to stay in office while contesting for the Presidency.
According to a report by PUNCH, the application was filed on May 5, 2022, and the judgement was granted on Thursday, May 12.
Justice DC Maidoh in a judgement secretly delivered on May 5 granted the order and adjourned the case to May 25.
“In the circumstances, in line with order 39 rule 3 of our rules, this motion is hereby granted. The motion on notice is accordingly adjourned to 25/5/2022 for hearing,” the judge said.
“The court upon reading through the motion papers and hearing C.N. Ofiah Esq. for the claimants/applicants ordered as follows: I have read the processes in this suit, the applicant has complied with order 39 of our rules”, the court document reads.
“Applicants also deposed to an affidavit of urgency. From the processes before this court, I find that the said application at this stage has merit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“In the circumstances, in line with order 39 rule 3 of our rules, this motion is hereby granted. The motion on notice is accordingly adjourned to 25/5/2022 for hearing. The applicant is to enter undertaking if the order sought ought not to have been made.”
Recall that a federal high court sitting in Abuja refused to grant Emefiele’s request to restrain INEC and the Attorney General of the federation from stopping his Presidential bid.
Odunews.com also reported how the CBN boss downplayed Nigerians’ concern about his presidential ambition.
Nigerians’ concern is tied to the close relationship that exists between the electoral umpire and the CBN. The country’s apex bank houses all electoral materials that would be used for the 2023 election.
See some reactions by Nigerians below:
#EmefiOle went overnight to the High Court of Delta State in Kwale & got an ex parte order against @cenbank Board & @inecnigeria requiring him to stay in ofc until January 2023. He is not just sticking a middle finger at @MBuhari, he has become a bandit who's taken over @cenbank
— Chidi Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) May 13, 2022
Emefiele is sticking his middle finger at us with his forum shopping. How can he institite two cases in two courts with concurrent jurisdiction? Emefiele by his obstinacy to turn our law on its head is hurting the economy. Buhari needs to sack him
— Dr Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) May 13, 2022
