Babachir Lawal criticizes Emefiele, Bawa’s detention

On Wednesday, Babachir Lawal, a former secretary to the government of the federation, criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for continuing to hold Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Abdulrasheed Bawa, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in jail without charge or trial.

On June 14, hours after the president had suspended him, Bawa—the first EFCC boss who wasn’t a member of the Nigerian police force—was arrested by the Department of State Services.

The former CBN governor, on the other hand, was detained on June 9 at his residence in Lagos.

As a result of numerous protests by activists and human rights organizations urging the DSS to charge them in court, their prolonged detention has continued to spark concerns.

Babachir stated in a statement released on Wednesday that he shared the same opinions and that the people have a right to demand a Nigeria that upholds everyone’s human rights and freedom of speech.

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.