The Department of State Services has released the lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe even as a Federal Hi
The Department of State Services has released the lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe even as a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, has ordered the DSS to allow Abaribe to have access to his lawyer. Abaribe’s media aide, Mr. Uchenna Awom, made the announcement in a statement issued on Tuesday night. Operatives of the DSS had, on Friday, arrested and detained the senator, while his Abuja home was raided same day.
The statement read, “About 6.32pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe walked into freedom after five days in the DSS gulag. Abaribe, who was granted administrative bail, was released to his lawyers led by Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN. The collective calls and demand for his release have shown the great spirit of Nigerians for justice.”
Shortly before his release, the lawyer drew the attention of the court to the fact that his client, who was arrested and detained by the DSS since Friday last week, was still being held incommunicado. Justice Nyako, who declined further action on the oral application, said the matter was not before her. Ume consequently pleaded with the court to intervene in the matter.
“If he is being detained by the DSS, you know what to do. His arrest and detention has nothing to do with me and I did not make any order for his arrest. I am tired of this drama; the DSS is not an extension of my court. Channel your grievance to the appropriate place. You are wasting my time on a matter that does not concern me,” the judge said.
Although the judge declared that she was not going to entertain the matter since the facts of his arrest and detention were not before her, she, however, said it was the constitutional right of anybody who is detained to have access to a lawyer of his or her choice.
The judge said: “I have nothing to do with that matter, however, because it is his fundamental right to get a counsel of his choice, the DSS should allow him to have access to his lawyer. You cannot hold him incommunicado. For whatever reason, you have arrested him, allow him access to his counsel,” Justice Nyako ordered.
