DSS whisks away Emefiele after clash with prison officials

The operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have whisked away the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele was re-arrested after the DSS officers clashed with the officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service at the premises of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

After the case was adjourned, Emefiele remained in the courtroom for several hours.

After a faceoff between men of the DSS and NCoS, the defendant was eventually intercepted by the DSS when he stepped out of the court room and taken away in a police vehicle at about 3:15p.m.

It was not clear why the former CBN governor was taken away by the DSS.

The Star had earlier reported that the officers of the secret police and that of the Nigerian Correctional Service exchanged blows at the premises of the court 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.

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.

The Star