The prayer of Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from taking any steps against his political interest, has been rejected.
Mr Emefiele had approached a federal high court in Abuja on Monday, urging it to declare him eligible to run for the top position.
In his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/610/2022, the governor also challenged the legality of Section 84(12) of the electoral act barring appointees from seeking elective positions while still retaining their job.
Rejecting the prayer, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, declined to order the maintenance of status quo as prayed by Emefiele’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Justice Mohammed ordered that the defendants be put on notice of the motion for them to respond by showing cause why the prayers sought by the plaintiff should not be granted.
“Having listened to the learned senior advocate and having read the affidavit in support, an order is hereby made directing the defendants to appear on 12 May (12pm) and show cause why the motion ex-parte seeking maintenance of status quo should not be granted by this court,” the judge ruled. “An order is made to serve the court processes on the defendants.”
