The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Godwin Emefiele has approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja asking for an order that will allow him contest the 2023 presidential election without being disqualified on account of being the governor of the Apex Bank.
Emefiele had through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome SAN applied for an order of status quo ante bellum to be made against the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation AGF to enable him remain in office until 30 days to the presidential election.
In an ex-parte application argued by the plaintiff counsel before justice Ahmed Mohammed, Emefiele denied being a political appointee but a Public servant that is not caught up by the section 84 subsection (12) of the new Electoral Act 2022.
The CBN governor asked the court to invoke section 318 subsection (1g) of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates that a public servant seeking an elective office has up till 30 days to the election before resignation.
However in a brief ruling, Justice Mohammed refused to grant a restraining order requested by the governor against INEC and AGF on his Presidential ambition.
Instead, the Judge ordered him to put the defendants on notice and also serve court processes on them.
The judge equally ordered INEC and AGF to appear before him on May 12 and show cause on why the request sought by Emefiele should not be granted.
