Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to order the release of former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Falana pointed out that the remand order against Bawa had already expired, emphasizing that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the cumulative lifespan of a remand order is limited to 56 days. He noted that this period had been exceeded, and according to both the Act and the Constitution of Nigeria, the DSS should release Bawa from illegal custody without any further delay.
Falana stressed that the rights of Bawa and former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, should be respected by both the DSS and the office of the Director of Public Prosecution at the Federal Ministry of Justice. He criticized the tendency of both individuals to disregard court orders during their respective tenures.
The human rights activist demanded that if there is evidence of criminal offenses committed by Emefiele and Bawa, they should be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction. He highlighted that Emefiele was initially charged with illegal possession of firearms, but the charge was withdrawn following the violent invasion of a court and the DSS’s contemptuous disobedience of the court order. Emefiele was subsequently charged with economic crimes in a different jurisdiction.
Regarding Bawa’s case, Falana emphasized that since he has not been charged with any criminal offense, the DSS should have released him from custody. He highlighted that the remand order issued by a magistrate court in the Federal Capital Territory had become invalid and illegal as it had exceeded the allowable detention period without trial.
Femi Falana’s call for the release of Abdulrasheed Bawa from DSS custody underscores the importance of respecting legal limits on detention and upholding the rights of individuals, even in cases involving high-ranking officials.
