Godwin Emefiele, and Plans Search of His Home and OfficeThe passport of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank Governor, has been seized by the Department of State Services (DSS), according to reliable sources. It has also been revealed that the DSS intends to conduct searches of Emefiele’s home and office within the week.Emefiele was suspended on Friday amidst an ongoing investigation into his office and planned reforms in the financial sector. The DSS arrested him in Lagos and transported him to Abuja via a private jet on Saturday.In a statement, Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the DSS, confirmed that Emefiele was in custody and under investigation. It is standard procedure for the travel document of individuals under investigation to be confiscated temporarily.A source within the DSS stated that the search of Emefiele’s residence and office is part of the investigation to gather documents that could be relevant to the ongoing probe into his management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).The DSS is also considering inviting or arresting other top directors of the CBN for questioning regarding their involvement in the administration of the apex bank.Additionally, the DSS may revisit the previous criminal charges against Emefiele, which revolve around allegations of terrorism financing and fraud. The suspended CBN governor is also accused of mismanaging the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the Anchor Borrowers Programme, both subsidiaries of the CBN.As of now, the DSS spokesperson, Afunanya, has not responded to inquiries about Emefiele’s detention.Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, expressed his belief that the DSS lacks the constitutional authority to investigate and prosecute Emefiele. Falana suggested that Emefiele should be transferred to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which possesses the legal mandate to handle such cases.Falana referenced a Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dr. Bukola Saraki v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, which concluded that the EFCC does not have the power to investigate and prosecute individuals for breaching the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Based on this precedent, Falana argues that the SSS should transfer Emefiele to the EFCC for further investigation into the allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes.