Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has asserted that the Department of State Services (DSS) does not possess the necessary jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on charges of money laundering.
Falana has argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is the rightful authority vested with prosecutorial powers in such cases. He has urged the DSS to concentrate its investigation solely on the allegations related to terrorism.
Emphasizing that the DSS had accused Emefiele of financing terrorism, Falana has urged the agency to focus its investigation specifically on that aspect and subsequently transfer the case to the EFCC.
In a statement issued by Falana, he has contended that continuing the investigation of money laundering allegations by the DSS, which exceeds its mandate, would put the entire investigation at risk.
Falana has referred to the legal precedent set by the Supreme Court in the case of Bukola Saraki v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, where it was established that the EFCC lacks the authority to investigate and prosecute individuals for violations of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
Based on this legal principle, Falana has maintained that the DSS is similarly devoid of the power to investigate and prosecute Emefiele for allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes.
