The House of Representatives has summoned the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, over alleged failed attempt by security agents to forcefully remove the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, from the custody of Nigeria Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja, in defiance to a subsisting court order which granted him bail.
Also to appear before the lawmakers to testify is the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Haliru Nababa, and chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.
Recall that the House of Representatives decided to probe the allegation after a petition by a civil society organisation (CSO), Centre For Social Justice Equity And Transparency (CESJET) was laid before it last week.
In the petition dated November 27, 2023, and addressed to the House Deputy spokesman, Hon. Philip Agbese, the CSO said the actions of the security agencies were a direct affront on the rule of law and amounted to disregarding the order of a competent Court of Law.
The organisation lamented that the embattled former CBN governor is now facing persecution and not prosecution, urging the lawmakers to intervene and stop the agencies of the state from abusing Court process and persecuting Mr. Emefiele.
In a summon notice dated December 1, 2023 and signed by the chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, the lawmakers summoned the concerned security agencies to appear before it on Thursday, December 7, 2023 for an investigative hearing on the allegation.
The notice sighted by this newspaper read in part, “Whereas the above named petition is now pending before this Committee and the particulars of the petition aforesaid are already within your knowledge, And whereas, the petition has been assigned to be heard by the Committee for determination. YOU ARE HEREBY required to note Sections 88 and 89 (C) of our constitution (as amended) and appear in person before this Committee on Thursday, 7th day of December, 2023 at 2:00pm or so soon thereafter as the Committee shall direct.
“You are to Submit one (1) soft and twenty (20) hard copies of your brief on the matter. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you do not attend the hearing as required, the case may be heard or determined in your absence. Issued this 1st day of December, 2023. Venue: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ROOM 429 (NEW WING).”
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