Emefiele must appear in court within a week or be released, according to a court order from DSS

 The Department of State Security Service (DSS) has been given a one-week deadline by the

Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to either charge the imprisoned suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to court or release him.

In a judgement on a fundamental human rights lawsuit Emefiele filed against the DSS and others, Justice Hamza Muazu granted the order.

Emefiele hasn't demonstrated that his detention and inquiry were illegal, the court said, adding that he is entitled to a fair trial.

Emefiele cannot be held in custody without an official charge.

The suspended CBN governor cannot be held in custody without a formal charge, Justice Muazu added, and the DSS is not permitted to look for evidence against Emefiele while he is being held.

The DSS has the authority to carry out its constitutional obligations to make arrests, hold people in custody, and ensure the prevention of internal crime, but Justice Muazu emphasized that these obligations must be fulfilled in accordance with the law.

This story is still developing.