From Fred Itua, Abuja
African Bar Association (AFBA), has warned that any attempt by the Department of State Services (DSS) or any other security agency to arrest the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele over alleged trumped up charge of terrorism financing despite a court decision baring the agency from doing so, could lead to anachy and possibly derail the 2023 elections.
The Association specifically asked the DSS to comply fully with the decision of the Federal High Court which bared it or any other security agency from arresting or inviting the CBN governor over the alleged charges of terrorism and economic crimes .
“We the international lawyers insist that rule of law must be followed ,and in the case of the CBN governor and DSS ,the statuesquo must be maintained until all the legal proceses are fully exhusted,” it said.
AFBA speaking through the chairman on the Human and constitutional Rights Committee, Sonnie Ekwowusi, said the reported move by the DSS to arrest Emefiele despite a court decision restraining them was beginning to send wrong signals abroad about Nigeria , According to him , violation of the decision of the Court is a recipe to anarchy and can derail the upcoming electoral process in Nigeria .
“The court had in its wisdom said there was no sufficient evidence to link the CBN governor to terrorism or any economic crime and ” We expect the DSS to respect the decision of the Court to the fullest and doing otherwise would always lead to anarchy.
“The Human and Constitutional committee of the African Bar Association has watched with regret the ongoing drama between the DSS of Nigeria and the governor of of Central Bank of Nigeria over sundry issues allegedly bothering in State Security corruption and politics.
“While the association would have ordinarily regarded this as a domestic issue involving Nigeria which can adequately be delt with by local bar Association and civil society organisation in Nigeria, the far reaching implication of violation of due process of law and human rights which is universal.
“The implication of this on a Democratic Nigeria, the largest black nation and the upcoming general election which wil usher in a new democratically elected government have made it imperative thar we urge that the rule of law and due process must be respected and allowed to prevail as recourse to self help or abuse of State power is recipe for chaos and anarchy.”
