DSS/NCC face-off: Ex-NBA vice chairman, Monday Ubani applauds Maikyau’s promptness
By Chijindu Emeruwa
Dr Monday Ubani, the ex-2nd National Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has applauded the promptness of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, in curtailing the fiasco that happened at the federal high court in Lagos state between the officials of Department of State Service and their counterpart, the Nigeria Correctional Center.
Recall that the fight between the duo followed the decision of the court which earlier ordered that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank, CBN, be remanded until he fulfils his bail requirements.
Reports had it that the Nigerian secret police intended to return Emefiele to custody, while men of the NCC were also on ground to move the suspended CBN governor to the correctional center following the order of the court.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court had granted bail to Emefiele after six weeks in the custody of the DSS.
He was granted bail after pleading not guilty to the two counts bordering on the alleged illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Earlier, Mr, Ubani who was also the former Chairman of NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), while baring his minds on Wednesday, regretted that the Nigeria judiciary and it’s powers are being undermined by such lawless and senseless display of power by the officers of DSS at the court premises.
According to him, “the legal profession cannot afford to be silent when everything about it is being threatened or destroyed by lawless government officials. It is dangerous.
“The truth is that the order of the court was explicit on who should take custody of the defendants, in the case Mr Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).
“It is appalling that DSS that had him for over a month was eager to take him back into custody despite the express order of the court,”he stated.
The human right lawyer queried “What more offence/s are they desiring to investigate which they did not complete for over one month they had him in their custody?
“Were they not the ones that came up with the miserable charge of illegal possession of firearms after his long detention?
“It is now they want to investigate the alleged funding of terrorism. We joke too much in this country”.
Continuing, Ubani also questioned “Who actually should be blamed in the circumstance, DSS or Correctional Center?
“If we take into account that before Tuesday, there had been several court orders that directed the release or arraignment of Mr Emefiele which were observed in breach by DSS, we cannot but lay appropriate blame on the doorstep of the culprit, which is DSS. No prevarications gentlemen.
He further insisted that the attitude and execrise of power by DSS, coupled with its impunity in disobeying court orders under the present democratic dispensation needs the bold condemnation of the Nigerian Bar Association, in order to nip their contempt for rule of law in the bud.
Ubani said “I believe that President Tinubu’s government owe Nigerians the onerous responsibility to tow the line of rule of law and obedience to court orders under his government.
“If he chooses to go the way of other regimes in Nigeria, let him be rest assured that patriotic minded Nigerians will resist him and his planned autocratic regime”.
