African Bar Association (AFBA), a global body for all practicing lawyers in Africa, has warned that any attempt to arrest the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele over alleged trumped up charge of terrorism financing despite a court decision baring the Department of State Services (DSS) agency from doing so, could lead to anarchy and possibly derail the 2023 election.
AFBA, in a statement by the Chairman of Human and Constitutional Rights Committee, Sonnie Ekwowusi, asked the DSS to comply fully with the decision of the Federal High Court which bared the it or any other security from arresting or inviting the CBN Governor over the alleged fabricated charged of terrorism and economic crimes.
“We the international lawyers insist that rule of law must be followed, and in the case of the CBN Governor and DSS, the statuesquo must be maintained until all the legal proceses are fully exhusted.
It said that the reported move by the DSS to arrest Emefiele despite court decision restraining them, was beginning to send wrong signals abroad about Nigeria.
According to the association, violation of the decision of the Court is a recipe to anarchy and can derail the upcoming electoral process in Nigeria .
“The court had in its wisdom said there was no sufficient evidence to link the CBN Governor to terrorism or any economic crime.
“We expect the DSS to respect the decision of the Court to the fullest and doing otherwise would always lead to anarchy.
“The Human and Constitutional committee of the African Bar Association has watched with regret the ongoing drama between the Department of State Security (DSS) of Nigeria and the Governor of of Central Bank of Nigeria over sundry issues allegedly bothering on state security, corruption and politics
“While the association would have ordinarily regarded this as a domestic issue involving Nigeria, which can adequately be dealt with by local Bar Association and civil society organisation in Nigeria, the far reaching implication of violation of due process of law and Human rights is universal.
“The implication of this on a democratic Nigeria, the largest black nation and the upcoming general election which will usher in a new democratically elected government, have made it imperative that the rule of law and due process must be respected and allowed to prevail as recourse to self help or abuse of state power is recipe for chaos and anarchy,” the association said.
