Babachir Lawal slams Emefiele, Bawa’s continued detention

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, on Wednesday, knocked the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the continued detention of the immediate past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa and erstwhile Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, without trial.

Bawa, the first EFCC boss who didn’t come from the ranks and files of the Nigerian police, was taken into custody by the Department of State Services on June 14 hours after the president suspended him.

The ex-CBN governor, on the other hand, was apprehended at his Lagos home on June 9.

Their prolonged detention has continued to raise questions occasioned by a number of protests by human rights groups and activists calling on the DSS to charge them in court.

Sharing the same views, Babachir disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday that the people have a right to demand a Nigeria that guarantees freedom of speech and human rights for all.

He said, “If Bola Tinubu claims he fought Abacha on the side of democracy and free speech, it is unbecoming and unacceptable that the NBC should threaten journalists under his watch.

“It is indefensible to keep the EFCC Chairman and the CBN governor under arrest for extended periods of time without or before trial, just as it is also unacceptable that political parties are used to intimidate and harass citizens exercising their opinions in the public domain.