The DSS also cautioned against what it referred to as a malicious defamation campaign targeting the Federal Government in relation to Emefiele’s arrest.
By Johnson Atoukudu:
According to the spokesperson of the Department of State Services (DSS), Peter Afunanya, Godwin Emefiele was allowed to see his family and doctors well in advance of a court directive. The Federal High Court in Abuja had instructed the DSS to grant the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) access to his family and legal counsel.
However, the DSS claims that they had already facilitated such access before the court’s intervention, as stated in a statement released on Saturday.
“It is instructive to state that the Service had granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials, and appropriate persons access to him, right from the day he was taken in and long before the court order requesting so,” the statement read.
“The Service implements Standard Operating Procedures on Suspect Handling and Investigation to the latter. It conducts its affairs transparently, and professionally and respects the rule of law in compliance with democratic governance.”
The DSS also cautioned against what it referred to as a malicious defamation campaign targeting the Federal Government in relation to Emefiele’s arrest.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified persons and groups planning to stage campaigns of calumny against it and the Government over the suspension and investigation of Mr Godwin Emefiele,” the DSS said.
“Such groups intend to gather at different points in Abuja and Lagos in the coming week with placards depicting the Service and Government in a bad light as well as calling for the immediate release of Emefiele. The Service is, therefore, aware of a cheap propaganda aimed at demotivating and distracting it from professionally executing the onerous responsibilities assigned to it.”
