Show Of Shame: How DSS Poked Its Finger In The Face Of A Judge
By Elem Kash
Members of the National Assembly alarmed by what most Nigerians are seeing as a contemptuous attempt by the Secret police which goes by the name, Directorate of State Services, to trample on the rule of law may swiftly urge the Tinubu administration to intervene.
Across the country, there are growing concerns over the behaviour of members of the secret police
Some Nigerians are claiming that the DSS has more or less become very hyperactive and seemingly brutal since the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stepped into office.
According to Port Harcourt Telegraph checks, many lawmakers as well as Senators who have seen the videos that have gone viral are shocked by the brazen display of force in the premises of a federal high court, following the battle for the custody of Godwin Emefiele.
An official of the Correctional Centre manhandled on Tuesday by agents of the DSSJustice Oweibo had ruled Emefiele should be kept in the custody of officials of the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail papers.
Soon after the court gave the order, the DSS refused to allow correctional facility officials to take custody of Emefiele, saying it had instructions to re-arrest him from above.
This led to a scuffle. A video showing how a prison staff was viciously manhandled and his uniform torn has since gone viral.
Kingdom Okere, a lawyer who claimed on Arise Television to have been in court when the incident occurred said journalists and others within the premises ran for the dear lives as deadly weapons were brandished.
He stated that he would want the Chief Judge of Nigeria to issue an order asking the bench to boycott State cases involving the DSS.
kingdom Okere, very angry with the officers and men of the Directorate of State Services.
Okere insisted that the DSS boss must apologise personally to the judge whose order was brazenly flouted.
Also speaking on Arise News. Ambassador Joe Keshi said the conduct of the DSS could create an image problem for the nation.
The ambassador expressed dismay over the uncouth behaviour of the DSS, saying its operatives who invaded the court premises acted like thugs.
Amb. Joe Keshi accuses the DSS of acting unprofessionallyKeshi insisted the DSS must be made to remain on its lane, saying the Secret Police must let other securityagencies to perform their functions.
Describing the conduct of the DSS as unprofessional, Keshi said it was the duty of the regular police to charge Emefiele for the illegal handling of firearms.
Both panelists urged President Tinubu to quickly intervene in order to keep the DSS in line and avert unpleasant circumstances.
In a related development, Femi Falana, human rights lawyer has fumed at the attitude of the DSS.
In a statement he issued, Felana acknowledged that the action of the DSS was an insult, but he recalled that Godwin Emefiele did not obey court orders himself.
“Notwithstanding the avowed commitment of the Bola Tinubu administration to operate under the rule of law, a team of State Security Service officials brazenly disobeyed the orders of the Federal High Court this morning (yesterday) at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
“The court had admitted Mr. Godwin Emefiele to bail in respect of the offence of illegal possession of firearms.
“For daring to comply with the orders of the Federal High Court, officials of the Prisons were attacked by gun-totting officers of the SSS.
“In view of the stern warning of President Tinubu that inter-agency physical attacks would not be permitted under his administration, the security officers who attacked officials of the Ikoyi Prisons ought to be fished out and sanctioned.’
“The federal government should also ensure that the orders of the Federal High Court are obeyed forthwith.’
“However, all public officers should draw the necessary lessons from the current travails of Mr. Emefiele.
“As governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he recklessly displayed arrogance and impunity by disobeying the orders of several courts, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria!”
The Nigerian Bar Association has similarly condemned the action of the DSS, saying it was completely unacceptable.