A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday refused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele’s request to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, restricting him from his Presidential Ambition in 2023.
Newsbreak reports that the Emefiele on Monday headed to the court in Abuja to seek a constitutional interpretation on his non-resignation while pursuing his political interests.
Three interest groups – the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Friends of Emefiele and Emefiele Support Group – last week paid N100m for the APC presidential expression of interest and nominations forms for Emefiele.
But the CBN governor, in a tweet on Saturday, said he was still waiting for God’s direction, adding that he would purchase the N100m forms himself if he entered the presidential race.
The CBN Governor through his Counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court that Section 84 ((12) of the Electoral Act as amended, 2022 does not affect him, being a public servant and not a political appointee.
The court in its ruling, however, refused the request and the Judge ordered him (CBN Governor) to put the defendants- INEC and AGF- on notice and also serve court processes on them.
The Judge also ordered the defendants to appear before him on May 12 to show why status quo antebellum, should not be granted.
The Chairman of Ward 6 in the Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, Nduka Erikpume, had said the CBN governor had registered as an All Progressives Congress (APC) member.
According to Section 9 of the CBN Act, 2007, the apex bank governor must not venture into any other vocation while in office and must resign in writing to the President if he nursed such intention.
It read: “The Governor and the Deputy Governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the bank and while holding office shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation whether remunerated or not except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the Board and which do not conflict with or detract from their full-time duties.”
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