Northern group gives DSS 48hrs to release Emefiele, others
The Arewa Civil Society Organisations (ACSOs) has given the Department of State Services a-48 hour ultimatum to release under-trial suspended governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, from its detention. It equally urged the director-general of the DSS, Yussuf Bichi, to resign his position.
TheCornet reports that a federal high court in Lagos had granted Emefiele a bail, in the sum of N20million but the secret police rearrested the embattled banker. The rearrest led to a scuffle between DSS officials and those of the Nigerian Correctional Service also aiming to have Emefiele returned to the prisons until he had perfected his bail terms.
In their statement issued on Thursday, ACSO vowed to occupy the DSS headquarters, if it fails to release Emefiele and others unjustly detained in its facility.
The statement, signed by the group’s chairperson Adamu Aminu Musa, said the “Arewa Civil Society Organisations is compelled to mobilise members under its umbrella to come out in their numbers and occupy premises of the Yellow House for a peaceful protest, demanding unconditional resignation of DSS Director General, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi.”
“This is in reaction to DSS’ continued attacks on the judiciary by defying several court orders, illegally holding Nigerian citizens in detention, thus, violating their fundamental human rights.”
“We, hereby, give Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi an ultimatum of 48 hours to comply with the court and release all individuals in their facility. You can’t just destroy their lives, that of their families and loved ones because you are heading a security agency.
“Failure to comply will attract a massive and peaceful protest. We will mobilise our youths to stop this dictatorship by Bichi and his operatives, which has ridiculed the country’s judiciary. Bichi must comply with court orders or resign.”
