DSS, prison officials brawl over custody of Emefiele as prison boss is arrested

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the officials of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS) were engaged in a public brawl at the premises of the Federal High Court Lagos over who keeps custody of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

At the end of the tussle, a top official of Ikoyi Prisons was arrested by the DSS after he was rough-handled and bundled into the DSS vehicle. But he was later released by the secret service operatives.

A drama had earlier played out after the arraignment of Emefiele at the court over the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and was granted bail in the sum of N20m with one surety, following his “not guilty” plea.

But as his lawyers were trying to perfect his bail conditions, there was a tussle between DSS operatives and officials of correctional service over who keeps custody of Emefiele.

It was alleged that after the court ruling, Emefiele had holed up inside the courtroom with his lawyers. However, when the prison officials moved to take Emefiele into custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions, the DSS operatives challenged them and this led to the scuffle.