Sir: The way and manner the suspended governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, has been treated by the new administration is reprehensible and shows very clearly that Nigeria is still not ready to abide by the rule of law.

One of the grievous allegations against the immediate past regime was its intransigence in issues relating to obeying court orders and upholding the rule of law. The expectations of the citizens at the swearing in of a new regime include that of a paradym shift in issues bordering on human rights and the promotion of rule of law as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

Emefiele was first invited to a meeting with the President and then the next thing was his suspension ostensibly for him to face questions about issues of abuse of office. Then almost immediately, he was taken into custody by the Department of State Service. Where on earth in a democracy is that done? This is somebody who has served the country for more than nine years in a position as crucial as that of heading the nation’s Central Bank. The number of years Emefiele has spent serving the country are more than those of any governor or head of state in the history of Nigeria. Whatever must have happened, such a man deserves some proper handling more so since he has never been found guilty yet by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Jide Oyewusi, coordinator of Ethics Watch International, Lagos.

Why for instance must the DSS take him to custody without first allowing him access to his lawyers? Why can’t they even allow him to visit them from his house to answer to any charges they have against him? Why must Emefiele be handled like someone with a history of disappearance or jumping bail?

Accepted that Emefiele stepped on the nation’s toes with some of the stringent policies he executed before his suspension, is it ever possible that he acted unilaterally? Could he have embarked on any policy without the approval or directive of his principal? And if Emefiele actually has questions to answer, is that enough reason for the shoddy treatment meted out to him so much so that his name soon became a veritable source of public ridicule?

Nigeria’s leaders need to understand that no matter whatever offence anybody is deemed to have committed, it is important that every citizen is treated with the dignity and respect he or she deserves. The way Emefiele has been treated so far represents a major infringement on his fundamental human rights to fair treatment and that’s quite unfortunate in a new regime.