Femi Falana, a well-known human rights attorney, has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to complete its investigation into the charges involving suspended Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria as soon as possible.
Emefiele was apprehended on June 10 by DSS
officials on charges related to terrorism financing, while Bawa was arrested
due to allegations of abuse of office.
During an appearance on Channels TV's
Politics Today program, Falana emphasized that according to the Criminal
Justice Act, if a Nigerian citizen is to be detained beyond 24 hours in areas
where courts are not within a 40km radius, such as Lagos and Abuja, the DSS
must seek a remand order from a Magistrate court to allow for further
investigation. Even if the DSS has obtained a court order for the detention of
Emefiele and Bawa, Falana stated that the validity of such an order would not
be indefinite.
As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Falana
called upon the Nigerian government to handle these cases in strict accordance
with the law, in order to prevent any potential exploitation of loopholes.
He stressed the importance of conducting
prompt investigations, particularly when serious allegations have been made.
Falana also urged the relevant agencies of the government to expedite the
investigation process and proceed with arraignments if the individuals are
found to be implicated in any wrongdoing.
Falana further highlighted that unless the
appropriate legal procedures are followed to justify their continued detention,
both Emefiele and Bawa should be granted bail.