Ozekhome: Emefiele, Bawa Victims of Executive Lawlessness

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Constitutional lawyer and rights activists, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, has described the ongoing travails of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa and the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele as the height of executive lawlessness and rascality.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) lamented that after all the ills perpetrated by the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, only Bawa and Emefiele have been singled out to become “Executive Victims”.

President Bola Tinubu shortly on assumption of office had suspended both Emefiele and Bawa from office over  allegations of corruption, abuse of office, threat to national security amongst others.

While Emefiele, who was arrested on June 10, was arraigned a month after following an order of court, Bawa was yet to be charged with any offence.

However, despite the court granting Emefiele bail, the Department of State Services (DSS)  forcefully took him into their custody after battling with personnel of the Nigeria Correctional Service on the grounds that Emefiele was wanted over fresh allegations.

Ozekhome, in a statement issued to journalists, however condemned the action of the DSS in their continued incarceration of the duo against constitutional provisions and lawful order of court.

He lamented that while Bawa was being kept in “captivity” nearly two months after he was invited for interrogation by the  DSS, Emefiele was not allowed to go despite being admitted to bail by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“The DSS, through its Director of Information, Willie Bassey, cited “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him”, as the reason for Bawa’s continued captivity.

“This continued detention without trial is barbaric, atrocious and unconscionable, to say the least,” the senior lawyer stated.

Adding that: “Till date, the DSS has not told Nigerians what Bawa’s specific offences are (if any), or the level of “investigation.”

Furthermore, Ozekhome remarked that Emefiele’s sad tale has further amplified the saying that, “…he who sups with devil, should have a very long spoon”, because the plight of the suspended CBN boss was as a result of the unpalatable “feast” he had with the Buhari government.

He pointed out that while Emefiele had been serially accused of plunging the nation’s currency to a zero level amongst other alleged crimes, he was yet to hear anyone accuse Emefiele of stealing trillions of naira like many of Buhari’s acolytes.

“I did not hear that he was involved in any coup attempt, or in kidnapping, armed banditry, or armed robbery. I am yet to hear that Emefiele committed murder. Even in these capital offences, a Judge can still grant bail to an accused person under certain circumstances as provided for in section 161 of the ACJA.

“So, the questions still remain unanswered: were all these acts complained about in Emefiele’s own accord alone? Could Emefiele have taken these decisions alone without former President Buhari’s backing? Can someone clap with one palm? Why punish the messenger and save the principal sender? Is this not selective justice? Is it because of where he comes from? Could this have happened to a northerner given the same extenuating circumstances,” the senior lawyer asked.

While condemning the DSS’ for its penchant for disobeying orders of court by continuing to keep both Emefiele and Bawa in custody over frivolous allegations, he urged the security agency to immediately release them in line with the Rule of Law.