Condemn re-arrest of the suspended CBN governor in defiance of a court order Human rights lawyers working under the auspices of Lawyers in Defense of Democracy (LIDD) have slammed the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, over the alleged assault on the judiciary, lawyers, prison officials, and media by DSS operatives in an effort to prevent prison officials from doing their duty and re-arresting the suspended CBN Gov Emefiele.
The attorneys also denounced Emefiele’s subsequent detention by secret police agents following a brawl with members of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
After Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos admitted Emefiele to bail in the amount of N20 million, the secret police and prison officials got into a fight over the latter’s decision to take custody of the suspended and in hot water apex bank chief.
Emefiele must remain in custody at the detention facility while the bail requirements are met, the judge ruled.
However, soon after the decision, DSS agents placed their Hilux Pick-up van, which had earlier been used to transport Emefiele to court, in a way that suggested they intended to quickly transport him to their detention facility.
The secret police confronted the prison staff when they attempted to take Emefiele into custody pending the fulfilment of his bail requirements, which resulted in a free-for-all brawl.
READ ALSO: A Blunt Verdict: Obasanjo’s Bold Assertion – Nigeria Fails Africa
Emefiele was ultimately taken into custody by secret police agents after a struggle with Nigerian Correctional Service personnel.
In a statement issued by their leader, Barr. Okere Kingdom, the lawyers demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrate his respect for the rule of law by suspending and ordering the arrest of DSS Director General Yusuf Bichi. The lawyers were reacting to what they called the rogue and tasteless behaviour of the DSS operatives.
The attorneys insisted that until Emefiele fulfils the terms of his bail, the DSS lacks the legal authority to re-arrest him.
“This ongoing assault by the DSS on the judiciary is wholly unacceptable,” the statement reads. We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate his respect for the law by suspending and ordering the arrest of Yusuf Bichi, Director General of the DSS, for repeatedly violating court orders and judgements pertaining to the release of suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Chairman Mr. Godwin Emefiele from the agency’s custody.
“What happened today in court is unacceptable; Bichi needs to be detained and imprisoned. The secret police has a pattern of consistently disobeying the law. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should immediately order the arrest of the DSS DG in order to preserve democracy and the reputation of the judiciary.
