A group of 60 constitutional and human rights lawyers in Abuja have taken action against the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Yusuf Bichi, for allegedly violating multiple court orders directing the release of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, from custody. The lawyers have commenced committal to prison proceedings against Mr. Bichi, seeking to hold him in contempt until he complies with the court orders.
Despite several court orders from Justices M. A. Hassan, Hamza Muazu, and Bello Kawu, directing the release of Emefiele, the SSS still arrested and detained him on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The lawyers argue that the charges are baseless and a clear act of persecution, as Emefiele was held for over a month without any evidence found against him.
The consortium of lawyers aims to see that Mr. Bichi is sent to prison as a deterrent to other security agency heads and government officials who may contemplate contempt of court and misuse of their powers for personal reasons.
The lawyers also call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to relieve Mr. Bichi of his position as DG of the DSS for misleading the President about Emefiele’s alleged crimes and filing a charge of possessing a validly registered pump-action rifle against him.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized the DSS for focusing on charging Emefiele for alleged illegal possession of firearms while failing to arrest individuals like ex-Niger Delta agitator, Asari Dokubo, and bandits brandishing military-grade weapons in videos. HURIWA finds the charges against Emefiele laughable and calls for a fair approach to law enforcement and justice in the country.
