DSS locks up suspended EFCC chair Bawa, refuses to explain his crime
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Little has been heard publicly about suspended Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa since his arrest and detention 34 days ago by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The secret police arrested him on June 14, the day he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu, who is gradually unveiling his autocratic face and lack of respect for the rule of law, merely pretending to be a democrat – the same dangerous things exhibited by his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari.
The DSS has also kept former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele in custody without trial since June 10, a day after Tinubu suspended him.
Willie Bassey, Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced in a statement Bawa was suspended based on “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.”
The allegations were not specified.
Since Bawa’s arrest, the DSS has kept silent on the offences for which he was arrested, the level of investigation, and whether charges would be filed against him in court.
DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya issued a statement on June 14 which said: “The Department of State Services has invited Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him.”
The DSS searched Bawa’s house and office in Abuja after his arrest.
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Related articles:
60 lawyers file contempt charge against DSS DG over Emefiele’s detention
Nigerians laugh off Tinubu sacking graft buster Bawa, say it’s a smokescreen
Transparency International ‘not surprised’ by Bawa’s suspension
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Illegal detention without trial
A human rights lawyer based in Abuja Pelumi Olajengbesi insisted it is illegal for the DSS to keep Bawa in detention without trial.
“Without any contradiction, the continued detention of Bawa by the secret police for over three weeks now is unconstitutional and a breach of the fundamental rights of the detainee,” he told The PUNCH.
“Illegality cannot beget another illegality.
“The DSS should immediately release Bawa to rejoin his family members without further delay, or charge him to court to face charges preferred against him by the federal government.
“Anything outside these two options is alien to law and won’t stand.”