The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday insinuated a link between former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele with the pro-independence Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The former CBN Governor last week was charged with illegal possession of firearms by the Nigerian government after a court nullified his detention by the DSS.
While his arrest and detention are being contested in court, the DSS on Tuesday claimed that Emefiele being represented by the same lawyer as IPOB indicates a connection with the proscribed separatist group.
DSS, in series of tweets on Tuesday said that Maxwell Okpara, one of the lawyers involved in the bid to release Emefiele from detention without trial is also a counsel of IPOB.
In fact, Okpara and some lawyers had called for action against DSS Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, over the detention of Emefiele.
But DSS, in its official Twitter handle, described Okpara as a “Biafran Republic agitator,” saying the lawyer needs to be well tutored on the law as per Emefiele’s arrest.
The tweets read: “Charge and bail, overzealous uninformed IPOB/ESN lawyer Maxwell Okpara mobilises other like minded lawyers against DGSS. Futile Efforts. Well, Nigerians, beware! This is in bad faith. Transferred aggression.
“A Biafran Republic agitator and Outlawed IPOB counsel defending the suspended CBN Governor.”
“Is IPOB defending one of theirs???? What a contradiction…..hmmm…what’s the connection? Is someone telling us something? May Maxwell be properly educated on points of law, please.”
Four days ago, a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja nullified the arrest, detention and interrogation of Emefiele by the DSS.
The presiding Judge Justice Bello Kawu held that the arrest, detention and interrogation of Emefiele were in violation of the subsisting judgment and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan.
The court also ordered Emefiele’s release from DSS custody.
