The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to take immediate disciplinary measures against the officers involved in Tuesday’s scuffle over the custody of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, in a statement on Wednesday, described the act as a disgraceful conduct” and “despicable”.
He said the altercation between officers of the two government agencies on the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos is a recipe for anarchy and chaos, adding that it was a “brazen disrespect for the sanctity of the court premises”.
Officials of the DSS and the NCoS, had on the court premises, fought over which agency was to take custody of the suspended CBN boss, after Justice Nicholas Oweibo admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of the N20m
The judge had also ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the correctional centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions, after Mr. Emefiele pleaded “not guilty” to the two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal Government.
Reports say, shortly after Mr. Emefiele’s arraignment and bail, DSS operatives positioned their Hilux Pick Up van used in conveying him to court, in a manner suggesting that they wanted to take him back to their detention centre but the suspended Apex bank governor remained inside the courtroom with his lawyers.
According to the report, the prison officials moved to take Emefiele into custody pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions, but were challenged by the secret police which led to a fight.
The report added that Mr. Emefiele’s lawyers later allowed the DSS to take custody of their client” to avoid a gun battle.
The prison officials had to exit the court in their vehicle, but the DSS re-arrested Emefiele despite the court’s order granting him bail and remanding him in prison.
NIM
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