DSS re-arrests Emefiele after fight with prison officials

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday re-arrested the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, following a fight with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

Emefiele was re-arrested within the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos despite the bail granted him by Justice Nicholas Oweibo after listening to the submissions of his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

Justice Oweibo had also ordered that the embattled former CBN governor should be moved from DSS custody and remanded at a correctional centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

Lawyers to the suspended CBN governor had alleged that the DSS was planning to re-arrest their client.

Emefiele’s lead counsel, Daudu (SAN), on Tuesday made this known at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Daudu raised the alarm about the DSS’s alleged plan to re-arrest the embattled former CBN governor despite the bail granted him by the court.

A fight, however, broke out involving the DSS operatives and prison officials as to who should keep Emefiele in their custody.

The secret police challenged the prison officials who moved to take Emefiele into custody and it led to a tussle.

The prison officials then exited the court in their vehicle and the DSS reportedly took Emefiele out of the courtroom into their waiting vehicle.

Earlier, Emefiele, pleaded not guilty to the two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal Government.

In his submissions, Emefiele’s lawyer, Daudu, urged the court to grant bail on self recognizance or on other liberal terms, pending the hearing and determination of the trial.

He said, “There is no counter affidavit from the Federal Government opposing bail. Also, the defendant is a renowned banker and can only stay at his house, he can’t travel anywhere.”