*ACJHR, AYM condemn rearrest of former apex bank chief
The Department of State Services (DSS) and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) fought at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos over which of the agency keeps custody of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emfiele.
The secret police and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) had clashed over the agency’s move to take custody of the suspended and embattled Apex Bank Chief after Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of the N20 million on Tuesday. Eventually, DSS operatives took custody of Emefiele after the physical fight.
However, a civil society organisation (CSO), African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), has described the rearrest of the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, by the DSS on the grounds of terrorism as void and laughable, saying an earlier court judgement had voided the terrorism allegations against him and barred the secret police from arresting him.
The human rights organisation, in a statement by its strategic communication consultant, Mr. Abubakar Isa, on Wednesday, said it’s laughable that a supposed Intelligence Agency rearrested someone on claims of something that has already been ruled on by a competent court of law.
The statement reads, “it’s laughable that a supposed Intelligence Agency, rearrested Emefiele on claims of something that has already been ruled on by a competent court of law. Is the DSS now saying that the judiciary is wrong, incompetent and their judgement doesn’t matter so long as it doesn’t favour them?
“Months ago, Justice M. A. Hassan of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) restrained the Department of State Services (DSS) and four others from arresting or detaining Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing. The judge held that the DSS acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating President Muhammadu Buhari against Godwin Emefiele in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of the National Security and economy.
“Again recently a High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu ordered DSS to immediately release Emefiele, from detention or charge him to court. It’s clear that the secret police has a vendetta against Emefiele because despite several court rulings the operatives have refused to obey any and has continued to disrespect the judiciary. It’s a huge disgrace what happened at the federal high court Lagos yesterday. President Tinubu should not allow the DSS to tarnish his hard earned reputation as a world renowned democrat.”
Also, a socio-cultural group, Arewa Youths Movement (AYM), has described the rearrest of the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, by the Department of State Services (DSS) as baseless, void and contemptuous violation of earlier court judgement voiding terrorism allegations against him.
The secret police and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) clashed over the agency’s move to take custody of the suspended and embattled Apex Bank Chief after Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of N20million on Tuesday.
Eventually the operatives of the secret police took custody of Emefiele after the physical fight.
Arewa Youth Movement, in a statement issued by its leader, Kabiru Yusuf, said the secret police rearrest of Emefiele on grounds of terrorism was baseless and contemptuous violation of earlier court judgement voiding terrorism allegations against him.
He recalled that months ago, Justice M. A. Hassan of an High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) restrained the DSS and four others from arresting or detaining Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing.
He also recalled that the judge held that the DSS acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating the then President Muhammadu Buhari against Mr. Godwin Emefiele in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of the national security and economy.
He further recalled a recent ruling in which an FCT High Court Judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, ordered DSS to immediately release Emefiele from detention. He, therefore, said that this rearrest by DSS on grounds of terrorism was baseless and contemptuous violation of earlier court judgements voiding terrorism allegations.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend the DSS DG, Yusuf Bichi, for constantly assaulting the judiciary and disregarding the rule of law.
Arewa Youths said, “The DSS rearrest of Emefiele on grounds of terrorism is baseless and contemptuous violation of earlier court judgement voiding terrorism allegations, an agency that has refused at several occasions to respect court rulings. One of the highlights of President Tinubu’s first meeting with the security chiefs was his warning that he won’t tolerate them working at “cross purposes”.
“What the DSS is doing is criminal. They are acting like they are above the law. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu act now and show that he’s a true Democrat before this agency becomes unruly.”
