Prof. Odinkalu, Raph-Collins drag Emefiele through Industrial Court for refusal to resign as CBN gov

A former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu and Uzoezie Ikemefuna Ralph-Collins have dragged Central Bank (CBN) Governor, Dr Godwin Emefiele, through the National Industrial Court in Abuja, for his refusal to resign his position despite his political affiliation.

The applicants are asking the court to declare that Emefiele has greatly compromised his independence in the discharge of his functions while in the employment of the CBN and therefore mandatory for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to remove him from office.

Some Nigerians had bought the expression of interest and nomination forms for the CBN governor days back, urging him to contest presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group claimed to have bought a presidential form for Emefiele at the rate of N100 million.

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Emefiele, after an initial denial, later filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking a declaration that as the CBN Governor, he could participate in the presidential primary of the APC as a contestant without resigning his job at the CBN.

The applicants are asking the National Industrial Court to make a declaration on whether by the combined effect of the provisions of Sections 1(3) and 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, Emefiele is statutorily mandated to devote the whole of his time to his employment with the CBN and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They want the court to determine whether Emefiele is allowed by the Constitution to engage in any full or part time employment or vocation which in the context includes participating in party primaries, congresses or other convention for the purposes of nomination of its candidates to the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria or contesting for election for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria scheduled for 25th February 2023, while in the employment of the CBN.

The applicants thus prayed the court to make an order declaring that by the combined effect of the provisions of Sections 5, 40 and 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Sections of 1(3), 9 and 11(2) (f) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, Emefiele by participating in party primaries, congresses or other convention for the purposes of nomination of its candidates to the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria or contesting for election for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria scheduled for 25th February 2023 has greatly compromised his independence in the discharge of his functions while in the employment of the CBN and therefore mandatory for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to remove him from office as an employee of the CBN.