The Department of State Services (DSS) has condemned the fracas that ensued on Tuesday between its personnel and officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS, at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
According to media reports, the embarrassing scuffle between the two law enforcement agencies started after Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted N20 million bail to the embattled CBN governor and ordered he be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
But contrary to the court ruling, operatives of the DSS insisted on taking Emefiele into custody, with some of them seen rough handling the prison commander before re-arresting the suspended apex bank chief and whisking him away from the court.
However, barely 24 hours after the supremacy battle over Emefiele, the secret police released an official statement about the incident, describing it as unfortunate.
“The incident was unfortunate and does not in any way reflect the professional disposition of the DSS,” a statement by DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya partly read.
“The Service did not and would never encourage the incident under reference. The Service has tremendous respect for the Judiciary as an Arm and Institution of Government and will not go out of its way to undermine it.
“The DSS recognizes the Judiciary as a critical component in nation-building, national development, and security management. Also, the Service has a robust working relationship with sister security and law enforcement agencies, including the NCoS.”
Afunanya’s statement also indicates that the DSS has launched a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“While noting that the personnel from both Agencies exhibited undue overzealousness, the Service has further initiated detailed investigations into the matter. This is to identify the role played by specific individuals as well as undertake disciplinary actions if necessary and drawing some lessons going forward,” the statement also noted.
