In a statement released on Sunday titled “The State Security Service Should Release Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic And Financial Crimes Commission From Illegal Custody Forthwith”, Falana said that he had, in the previous month, demanded for the release of Bawa and Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), or, if they were to be kept in custody, to charge them with the crimes that they had committed, so as to avoid a violation of the rights of both men by detaining them without proper charge. However, he said that while Emefiele was charged, Bawa had not been charged, and was still being kept in custody, and as such, he called for Bawa’s immediate release.
Falana’s statement read, “It is public knowledge that Mr. Emefiele was recently charged with illegal possession of firearms before the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court. Even though he was granted bail, the State Security Service treated the order of the Court with contempt. As the violent invasion of the court coupled with the disobedience of the order of the Court by officials of the State Security Service could not be justified, the Federal Government decided to withdraw the charge of illegal possession of firearms. The case was accordingly struck out by the court while Mr. Emefiele was charged with grave economic crimes at the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.
