Lawyers in Defence of Democracy (LIDD), a group of Human Rights Lawyers, have strongly criticized Yusuf Bichi, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), for the alleged assault on the judiciary, lawyers, prison officials, and media during an attempt to prevent prison officials from taking the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, into custody as ordered by the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The lawyers also condemned the subsequent rearrest of Emefiele by DSS operatives after a violent clash with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
They argue that the DSS does not have the constitutional authority to rearrest Emefiele until he fulfills his bail conditions, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate respect for the rule of law by suspending and ordering the arrest of the DSS Director General.
The statement reads, “This constant assault on the judiciary by the DSS is totally unacceptable. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prove that he has regard for the rule of law by suspending and ordering the arrest of the DSS Director General, Yusuf Bichi, for violation of multiple judgments and orders of court on the release of suspended chairman of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, from the custody of the agency.
“What played out at the court today is unacceptable, Bichi needs to be arrested and sent to prison. The secret police has made a habit of continuously disrespecting the rule of law. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should save democracy and image of the judiciary by immediately ordering the arrest of DSS DG.”
