In a stunning turn of events at a Federal High Court in Lagos, the re-arrest of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) has sparked widespread condemnation from lawyers and various other quarters.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday within the premises of the court shortly after Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted bail to the embattled apex bank chief.
Emefiele’s re-arrest, and the reported tussle with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), has raised concerns over the upholding of the rule of law and the manner in which legal orders are being respected in the country.
As reactions pour in, questions arise about the implications of such actions on the justice system and the image of law enforcement agencies.
Human Rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, slammed the DSS fow what he described as an act of “infamy and impunity”, calling on the judiciary to defend its integrity.
He said, “The SSS has recorded yet another point in its long list of infamy and impunity. 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.”
Another lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo said the act is reminiscent of the “dark days” of the military eraÂ
ALSO READ:Â Emefiele: 3 Times Nigerian Security Operatives Fought Each Other and Why
“DSS whisks Emefiele away from court. This reminds me of the dark old days of military era in Nigeria. TINUBU is simply running a Fascist regime worst than the military. Give or take he is an autocrat, Nigerians neva ci natin.”
Other reactions gathered by The Quest Times include
Emefiele brought this all on himself
Don't blame politicians for wasteful spending, it's their default setting. Emefiele however was protected by law, but he not only broke the law that protected him, actually ran for office
Yes, he has been dumped, but he gambled the Office… pic.twitter.com/JEGgjYmYzz
— Kalu Aja (@FinPlanKaluAja1) July 25, 2023
@BigChiefDamien Emefiele is still the CBN Governor. He can only be removed by the 2/3 of the N. Assembly & NOT by the President. He was granted bail & the DSS disrespected our courts & Judge. The Judiciary must rescue itself or face ridicule from literal criminals who do not have any respect for rule of law. #AllEyesOnTheJudiciary
@HonShield I hear them say Tinubu fought for democracy but here I am watching the DSS desecrate democracy right inside court premises by going physical against Prison officials and insisting it must whisk Emefiele away against a court order. Which democracy did Tinubu fight for pls?
@rilwan_ola01 Emefiele is still the CBN governor. He can only be removed by the 2/3 of the National Assembly and not by the president. If the CBN governor can be brutally molested like that and the sitting judge that granted him bail could be disrespected in such manner , how much more other judges and mere lawyers? The judiciary must rescue itself or face ridicule from people that doesn’t have any respect for rule of law
I’m tempted to feel sorry for Emefiele.
But all these lawlessness has to stop. pic.twitter.com/NWJqEhOWXJ
— Mo-Mo (@Morris_Monye) July 26, 2023
@fopara03 All I saw in the room where Emefiele was arraigned was a Courtroom that lacked coherence and was as cluttered as a mechanic workshop. The drama that ensued afterward was the climax of a country that has fallen into a complete disarray
@Eloka51 A joke of a nation. Court says Emefiele should be remanded in Prison till he perfects his bail but Tinubu and Bichi have personal beef with Emefiele and so DSS still wants to keep him. There’s nothing APC cannot destroy.