The scuffle between DSS, Correctional Services officers at the court premises 


Constitutional lawyer-activist, Dr Monday Ubani on Wednesday applauded the prompt reaction  by the President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr  Yakubu Maikyau SAN to the show of shame exhibited by men of the Directorate of State Service, which he described as  "...lawless and senseless display of power by the officers of DSS...."  at the  premises of the Lagos High Court,  on Monday



"It is obvious that our judiciary and its powers are being undermined by such lawless and senseless display of power by the officers of DSS at the court premises. The legal profession cannot afford to be silent when everything about it is being threatened or destroyed by lawless government officials. It is dangerous!


Dr Monday Ubani 


"The truth is that the order of the court was explicit on who should take custody of the defendant, in this case Mr Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. It is appaling that DSS that had him for over a month was eager to take him back into custody despite the express order of the court. What more offence/s are they desiring to investigate which they did not complete  for over one month they had him in their custody? Were they not the ones that came up with the miserable charge of illegal possesion of firearms after his long detention? It is now they want to investigate the alleged funding of terrorism? We joke too much in this country! 


"Who actually  should be blamed in the circumstance, DSS or Correctional Centre? If we take into account that before yesterday there had been several court orders that directed the release or arraignment of Mr Emefiele which were observed in breach by DSS, we cannot but lay appropriate blame on the doorstep of the culprit, which is DSS. No prevarications gentlemen!


"The attitude and exercise of power by DSS under this new dispensation needs to be interrogated. Their penchant and impunity in disobeying court orders needs the bold condemnation of the Nigerian Bar Association to nip their contempt for rule of law in the bud. We do not need to patronise them at all  as they are hell bent in destroying the rule of law and by extension our had won democracy.


"I believe that President Tinubu's government owe Nigerians the onerous responsibility to tow the line of rule of law and obedience to court orders under his government.


"If he choses to go the way of other regimes in Nigeria, let him be rest assured that patriotic minded Nigerians will resist him and his planned  autocratic regime. The cutizens have suffered enough and are ready to take their destinies in their hands this time around.  A word is enough", Dr Ubani stated in a press statement.




Dailyledger.com.ng reports that the NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, in a statement on Wednesday, urged   the two agencies to take immediate disciplinary measures against the officers involved in the “disgraceful conduct”.


Maikyau described the duel between officers of the two government agencies in a Federal Court as a prescription for anarchy and chaos, adding that it was a “brazen disrespect for the sanctity of the court premises”.


On Tuesday, the DSS  and Nigeria Correctional Services  officials caused a stir when they clashed on the court premises over which agency should take  custody of the embattled apex bank chief after Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted him bail in the sum of N20 million.


Oweibo also ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the Correctional Services centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.


This was after the 61-year-old pleaded “not guilty” to the two-count charge of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal Government. Emefiele, who was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on June 9, 2023, was arraigned over six weeks after his arrest and detention by the secret police.


According to the Vanguard newspaper report, "Shortly after Emefiele’s arraignment and bail, DSS operatives strategically positioned their Hilux Pick Up van used in bring him to court, in a manner suggesting that they wanted to take him back to their detention centre but the suspended CBN governor holed up inside the courtroom with his lawyers.


"When the prison officials moved to take Emefiele into custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions, the secret police challenged them and it led to a fight.


"Reacting to the disgraceful drama between the two agencies yesterday, via a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, NBA said, “A situation where officers of Federal Government agencies engage in a fight as witnessed by the public, for whatever reason, is antithetical to our security as a nation and creates a recipe for anarchy and chaos. 


"Both the DSS and the NCoS are important institutions dealing with national security and administration of justice respectively, and the need for them to work in concert towards attaining justice in a secured Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.


“In addition to this disciplinary measure, Mr Maikyau also advised “a complete overhaul of the institutions and a total reorientation of the personnel, to achieve professionalism and ensure synergy in the discharge of their respective constitutional responsibilities.”


“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) remains committed to the promotion and protection of the principles of the rule of law and due process, within a safe and secured Nigeria.”