The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday mocked a lawyer it described as legal adviser to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Maxwell Okpara for dragging the agency to court.
Okpara and other lawyers had filed a contempt of court charge against the DSS and its Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, over the continued detention of suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
According to the lawyers, the criminal charge against the DSS boss was a result of a violation of multiple judgements and orders of the court directing the release of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, from the custody of the agency.
Led by Maxwell Opara and Ahmed Tijani, the lawyers are praying that the court commits Bichi to prison until he purges himself of the contempt.
In their motion filed before the court for the issuing of Form 48 and Form 49, the lawyers said by the judgements and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan, Justice Hamza Muazu and Justice Bello Kawu, the DSS DG ought to have released Emefiele from detention.
In the affidavit in support of the application, the consortium deposed to the fact that Justice M. A. Hassan restrained the respondents in that suit, particularly the DSS, from arresting, detaining, or interrogating Emefiele for offences connected to terrorism financing, money laundering, round tripping, financial crimes of national security dimension, among others.
Reacting in a series of post on its Twitter handle, the DSS questioned the rationale behind the court case, wondering whether Emefiele is part of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
Describing Okpara as a Biafra agitator and charge and bail lawyer, the DSS slammed him for defending the suspended CBN Governor.
The agency wrote: “Charge and bail, overzealous uninformed IPOB/ESN lawyer Maxwell Okpara mobilises other like minded lawyers against DGSS. Futile Efforts. Well, Nigerians, beware! This is in bad faith. Transferred aggression.
“A Biafran Republic agitator and Outlawed IPOB counsel defending the suspended CBN Governor. Is IPOB defending one of theirs???? What a contradiction…..hmmm…what’s the connection? Is someone telling us something? May Maxwell be properly educated on points of law, please.”