DSS Said Emefiele Had Access to Family and Medical Personnel Before Court Order
Godwin Emefiele, according to the Department of State Services (DSS), was given access to his family and doctors long before a court ordered it.
The DSS was required by an Abuja Federal High Court ruling to allow the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor access to his family and attorneys.
However, the DSS claimed in a statement on Saturday that the agency had already carried out that action prior to the court ruling.
“It is instructive to state that the Service had granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials, and appropriate persons access to him, right from the day he was taken in and long before the court order requesting so,” the statement said.
“The Service uses Standard Operating Procedures for handling suspects and conducting investigations. It upholds the rule of law and conducts its business in an open, professional, and democratic manner.
Additionally, it issued a warning against what it called a campaign of defamation against the Federal Government due to Emefiele’s detention.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified persons and groups planning to stage campaigns of calumny against it and the Government over the suspension and investigation of Mr. Godwin Emefiele,” the DSS stated.
Such organizations plan to assemble in the upcoming week in various locations in Abuja and Lagos with placards that criticize the Service and Government and demand Emefiele’s quick release. The Service is consequently aware of certain cheap propaganda that aims to distract and demoralize it from carrying out the difficult tasks that have been given to it.
DSS DISCLOSE THE PLANNED CALUMNY CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified individuals and organizations preparing to launch defamation campaigns against it and the Government in response to Mr. Godwin Emefiele‘s suspension and investigation. In the upcoming week, these organizations plan to congregate in several locations in Abuja and Lagos with placards that criticize the Service and Government and demand Emefiele’s quick release. The Service is consequently aware of sleazy propaganda that aims to divert it and demotivate it from carrying out the difficult tasks that have been given to it in a professional manner.
It has also drawn attention to the deceptive remarks, speculative stories, plots, and films that are being shared on social media by ignorant individuals, critics, and/or outlaws. It is aware of attempts to infiltrate its ranks in order to use disloyal employees for subversive objectives against its leadership. The Service cautions the plotters to cease their activities immediately even though these attempts are viewed as distraction hatchet jobs. The arrowheads are already being watched, and if and when it is necessary, they will be captured as a result.
It is essential to note that the Service had given access to Emefiele’s family, medical professionals, and other appropriate parties from the moment he was taken in and well in advance of the court order seeking it. The Service uses Standard Operating Procedures for investigating and handling suspects. It follows democratic governance by conducting its business in a transparent, competent, and law-abiding manner while upholding the rule of law.
It affirms its professionalism in the matter(s) now falling within its jurisdiction to remove any room for doubt. But it won’t be intimidated or sidetracked.
Peter Afunanya PhD, fsi
Public Relations Officer
Department of State Services
National Headquarters
Abuja
17th June 2023
