A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has said that today’s clash between operatives of the Department of Staff Services (DSS) and personnel of the Nigeria Correctional Service over custody of Godwin Emefiele proves why President Bola Tinubu did not replace DSS boss, Yusuf Bichi, as he did other service chiefs.
Effiong said this in a lengthy tweet.
The Herald can report that there was a brouhaha on the premises of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, as DSS operatives and correctional service personnel fought over custody of Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo had granted Emefiele, who earlier pleaded not guilty to two counts of gun possession, N20 million bail with one surety in like sum.
As correctional service personnel attempted to take the defendant into custody pending when he would perfect his bail condition, they were attacked by DSS personnel who insisted on leaving with him.
This is amid reported moves by the DSS to rearrest Emefiele despite the bail granted him by the court.
Recall that Emefiele has been in DSS custody since June 10, a day after he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to today’s incident, Effiong said, “Tinubu retained Mr. Bichi as the DG of the SSS because Bichi is ever willing to deploy the agency to witch-hunt Tinubu’s perceived political foes”.
The tweet read, “The show of shame at the Federal High Court in Lagos is a vindication of those of us who have said time and again, that this so-called law enforcement agency is nothing but a political and partisan tool in the hands of every occupant of Aso Rock.
“It is very disgusting to see the crude desecration of the Federal High Court in Lagos by the SSS. The Court ordered that Emefiele should be remanded in the Correctional Centre, but the reckless and lawless SSS in its usual character went after Emefiele in flagrant violation of the order of the court.
“Such despicable sight should not be tolerated in a constitutional democracy. Mr. Tinubu retained Mr. Bichi as the DG of the SSS because Bichi is ever willing to deploy the agency to witch-hunt Tinubu’s perceived political foes.
“When Godwin Emefiele was suspended as the CBN Governor, many Nigerians wrongly assumed that his suspension was aimed at holding him accountable for his terrible monetary policies and any infraction he may have committed under the corrupt Buhari regime.
“However, all that the government has been able to come up with so far are two ridiculous and dubious charges of illegal possession of firearms.
“While Asari Dokubo who has publicly displayed assault rifle is busy raising a private army and walking freely, the SSS shamelessly went after Emefiele over possession of primitive guns.
“Tinubu must accept responsibility for the invasion of the court. The Judiciary is now at the mercy of a lawless agency of Executive arm of government.
“I call on the Judiciary to rise up and defend its integrity and independence.”