By Ismail Auwal
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has turned down a request by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, from preventing him from for participating in the upcoming presidential primaries.
SAHELIAN TIMES reported that Emefiele, through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told a court in Abuja on Monday that he can run for President without resigning as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Ozekhome told the court that Section 84 ((12) of the Electoral Act as amended, 2022 does not affect Emefiele, being a public servant and not a political appointee.
The court, in its ruling, summoned INEC and AGF to appear before it on May 12 to show cause why the CBN Governor should not be granted status quo antebellum.
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had gone to court in Abuja to seek a constitutional interpretation of his refusal to resign while pursuing political interests.
Emefiele had confirmed that he registered in the APC in February 2021.
