The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has commenced an investigation into the face-off involving its officers and operatives of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in court over the custody of Godwin Emefiele, suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Emefiele is facing charges bordering on “illegal possession of firearms”.
Earlier on Tuesday, a federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, granted Emefiele N20 million bail and one surety in like sum.
Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge, ruled that the embattled apex bank chief be remanded at the correctional centre, pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
However, DSS operatives insisted on taking Emefiele into their custody.
Heated arguments and an all-out brawl between personnel of both services ensued on the premises of the court.
The scuffle between the two agencies later culminated in a free-for-all as the Armed Squad Commander of the NPS, Williams Udom, who had come to give tactical support to the prison officials in the court premises, was manhandled, with his service uniform torn.
It took the intervention of a senior female DSS official, who arrived at the scene hours after the standoff and had a brief chat with NCoS officials and her operatives to douse the tension.
This paved way for the DSS to re-arrest Emefiele immediately after he stepped out of the courtroom.
The service, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, on Wednesday, however, condemned the action.
According to the statement: “The incident was unfortunate and does not in any way reflect the professional disposition of the DSS.
“The Service did not and would never encourage the incident under reference;
“The Service has tremendous respect for the Judiciary as an Arm and Institution of Government and will not go out of its way to undermine it. The DSS recognises the Judiciary as a critical component in nation building, national development and security management. Also, the Service has robust working relationship with sister Security and Law Enforcement agencies including the NCoS.
“While noting that the personnel from both Agencies exhibited undue overzealousness, the Service has further initiated detailed investigations into the matter. This is with a view to identifying the role played by specific persons as well as undertaking disciplinary actions if necessary and drawing some lessons going forward.
“For emphasis, the DSS has not broken any laws in handling the Emefiele case despite efforts by some elements to skew the narratives to the contrary.
“The Service had since alerted the public of sinister plots to discredit its leadership. In pursuit of its assignments, it will strive to remain professional, maintain ethical standards and high sense of discipline.
“The Service will ensure that it will not be used for clout and fame chasing or delusional heroism. It will, however, remain focused on its national security mandate and, therefore, enjoin well-meaning Nigerians to support it in achieving the desired security goals for the nation. It is imperative to note that we have no other country but Nigeria.
“We should join hands, with love and tolerance, to build it,” it noted.
