The Department of States Services (DSS) has insisted that it did not go against the law with its move to re-arrest the former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, News About Nigeria reports.
Recall that despite a court ruling that granted the embattled CBN governor bail, the State Security Service, forcefully re-arrested the ex-bank boss.
However, many prominent Nigerians and CSOs have continued to condemn the secret police for the continued detention of Mr Emefiele.
Defending DSS moves, Peter Afunaya, the Service spokesperson said it followed legal procedure in rearresting the former bank boss.
Mr Afunaya argued that contrary to widely promoted claims that the DSS blatantly disobeyed court rulings, the Secret Service obeys court orders and got a court injunction to continue holding the former bank boss in detention.
“The Service had long issued a press statement over the incident that happened at the Court between its staff and those of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and pledged to investigate it,” he said.
“Though the investigation is ongoing, the preliminary findings are quite shocking considering the ignoble roles played by some public officials.”
According to Mr. Afunaya, the embattled bank boss’ continued detention was on the ground “of adequate suspicion of commission of a crime”.
“As normal with criminal investigations, security agencies re-arrest suspects when there is adequate suspicion of commission of a crime or as may be revealed by an ongoing investigation. Emefiele was re-arrested on the basis of this. Even though the re-arrest was tainted by the overzealousness of personnel of the Service and NCoS, it was nonetheless legally procedural.”
“Many had gone to town with stories of DSS fragrant disobedience to Court Orders especially in view of the last episodes at the High Courts in Lagos and Abuja.
“With what played out at the Court on 27th July 2023 under Justice (Edward) Okpe, the Service immediately applied and obtained a detention Order from a Magistrate Court. So, Emefiele is legally detained. For reasons that the Emefiele case is subjudice, the Service will restrain from making further comments on the subject matter.
“Whether on Emefiele, Bawa or Kanu, the Service has obeyed judicial orders and handled the cases procedurally and in accordance with the rule of law. Critics are encouraged to be a bit more discerning and up their research capabilities. Doing so will reveal that the Service obeys orders.
“The Court of Appeal judgement on Kanu is recommended for detailed study. Maybe, we can decipher the difference between Discharged and Acquitted and what the use of either or both mean in the final order of a Judge.
“The DSS is an ardent respecter of the law. Anyone may argue this but it is true. It is in this regard that it has applied for either a stay or notice of appeal on some of the matters. One who does not obey the laws will not resort to legal procedures like the DSS has done,” Afunanya stated.
