Crimes

DSS, Prison officials exchange blows over Emefiele

There was pandemonium at the premises of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State on Tuesday, following an attempt by the officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) to re-arrest the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

DSS operatives and that of the Nigerian Correctional Service exchanged blows at the premises of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.

The bone of contention is the custody of Emefiele.

The DSS officers clashed with the officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service over an attempt to take Emefiele into its custody as ordered by the court.

The DSS operatives, while resisting the move, pushed a prison official who attempted to take the suspended CBN boss and ordered all journalists to move out of the vicinity while brandishing their guns.

All visitors to the court were also seen running for safety.

In fact, a Prisons Commander was beaten, cloth torn, and arrested at the court premises by DSS operatives.

The Star learnt that the Prisons Commander was trying to comply with the order of Justice Nicholas Oweibo that Emefiele should be kept in the custody of the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Emefiele was granted N20 million bail and a surety in like sum.

The DSS, however, insisted that they must take Emefiele along.

Emefiele is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on possession of a single barrel shot gun, as well as possession of 123 rounds of live ammunition without licence.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Emefiele was charged by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation under the Ministry of Justice.

The court had adjourned the case until November 14, 2023, for trial and had ordered a remand of the defendant in the correctional service pending the perfection of his bail.

Meanwhile, a brother to the suspended CBN Governor, George Emefiele, has expressed fear over the safety of his brother.

Speaking outside the court premises, he said: “DSS is violating the court order. This is like a Gestapo and we are doing this to ourselves. I am very, very worried about the safety of my brother. This fighting is not necessary. The judge said he should be remanded in Ikoyi but the DSS are saying no.

“We pray that it ends well. Our prayer is that the Federal Government should obey the court order. He served this nation for nine good years. This is not fair and we need to make the government know that what they are doing is not right and obey.”

The Star