DSS, Nigeria Correctional Service fight over Emefiele's custody

There was an exchange of blows at the premises of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi between operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Correctional Service over who would have custody of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, had granted Emefiele bail but ordered the Nigeria Correctional Service to keep the suspended CBN Governor in their custody pending the perfection of his bail.

Shortly after the court’s ruling, there were strong indications that Emefiele who had been granted bail by Justice Nicholas Oweibo would be re-arrested by officers of the DSS.

This indication was propelled by the presence of well-armed operatives milling around the entrance door to the courtroom.

The DSS positioned their security Toyota Hilux jeep close to the entrance of the court and refused to leave the court premises.

Sensing the agenda of the DSS, officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service decided to weigh in, insisting that the court ruling expressly ordered them to have custody of Emefiele.

Things got to a head between the two government security agencies until they started throwing punches in public.

Meanwhile, Emefiele’s lawyers are still seated in the court while the judge is trying to prevail on the DSS to allow the defendant perfect his bail terms instead of re-arresting him.