The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the fight between operatives of the Department of State Services and the personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service over the custody of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The DSS had brought Emefiele before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearm.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo in his ruling, however, granted him bail in the sum of 20 million with one surety in the like sum.
The secret police and prison officials caused a stir when they clashed on the court premises over the agency to take custody of the embattled apex bank chief.
However, in a statement on Wednesday by the NBA National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, the association described the actions of the government agencies as shameful.
He said the NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), called on the two agencies to take disciplinary against their personnel.
“A situation where officers of Federal Government agencies engage in a fight as witnessed by the public, for whatever reason, is antithetical to our security as a nation and creates a recipe for anarchy and chaos.
“Both the DSS and the NCoS are important institutions dealing with national security and administration of justice respectively, and the need for them to work in concert towards attaining justice in a secured Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.”
“While it is difficult not to hold the leadership of the two federal government agencies directly responsible for the shameful and disgraceful conduct of the personnel, the NBA President has particularly called on the two agencies “to take immediate disciplinary measures against the officers involved in this disgraceful conduct.”
“In addition to this disciplinary measure, Mr Maikyau also advised “a complete overhaul of the institutions and a total reorientation of the personnel, to achieve professionalism and ensure synergy in the discharge of their respective constitutional responsibilities.”
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) remains committed to the promotion and protection of the principles of the rule of law and due process, within a safe and secured Nigeria.”
