As the controversy surrounding the Department of State Services’ (DSS) decision to rearrest the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, continues to dominate headlines, his legal counsel has leveled charges of tribal and ethnic discrimination against the government.
Emefiele was taken into custody immediately after being granted bail by a Federal High Court, causing a public uproar.
The Premium Times reported via their verified Twitter account on Tuesday, July 25, that contrary to the Lagos High Court’s directive to detain Emefiele in a standard prison facility pending the perfection of his 20 million Naira bail and other conditions, the DSS opted to rearrest him.
Speaking to the press outside the court, Barrister Kingdom Okere, a member of Emefiele’s legal team, alleged that the former CBN Governor’s prosecution is motivated by his tribal origin.
The attorney further accused the DSS of double standards, noting that while Emefiele faces charges for firearm possession, other individuals publicly brandishing weapons and issuing threats to specific ethnic groups remain untouched by the law enforcement agency.
Referencing a specific case, Okere stated, “Asari Dokubo is publicly displaying AK-47 rifles and openly recruiting militants, threatening to annihilate the whole Southeast. Yet, has the DSS made any move to arrest him?”
He further questioned, “They’re accusing Emefiele of owning a firearm, but what about the bandits operating in the woods? How many have the DSS arraigned in court? Is this happening because Emefiele hails from the South-South and possesses an Igbo name? This is in a country that proclaims that our unity resides in our diversity.”
SOURCE: Premium Times
IMAGE: LinkedIn Nigeria
