Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken a swipe at Maxwell Okpara, one of the lawyers fighting to secure the release of the embattled governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
In a series of tweets on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday, the secret police accused Okpara of mobilising “other like-minded lawyers” against the Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi.
DSS described Okpara as a “Biafran Republic agitator,” adding that the lawyer needs to understand the law on Emefiele’s arrest.
“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,” DSS tweeted.
Okpara had represented Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on a couple of occasions.
On Monday, a group of lawyers led by Okpara and Ahmed Tijani, initiated a contempt charge against Bichi at a FCT High Court for failing to release Emefiele.
The lawyers had said the DSS DG should have release Emefiele from custody in light of the prevailing judgements and orders issued by three separate courts.
They cited orders of Justices M. A. Hassan of FCT High Court in Garki; Hamza Muazu of FCT High Court in Maitama and Bello Kawu of FCT High Court in Apo.
Emefiele has been in DSS custody since his arrest on June 10.
The tweet has elicited different reactions from Nigerians.
