TheCable

Pelumi Olajengbesi, an Abuja-based human rights lawyer, has faulted the continued detention of Abdulrasheed Bawa, suspended chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On June 14, President Bola Tinubu suspended Bawa to allow for proper investigation.

A statement by Willie Bassey, director of information, office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), said the suspension followed “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him”.

A few hours after Bawa was suspended, he honoured the invitation of the Department of State Services (DSS) and was grilled.

Bawa has been in DSS custody since June.

However, some media reports detailed that the DSS obtained a court order to detain Bawa for two more weeks, in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Reacting to the development, Olajengbesi, in a statement on Tuesday, said the continued detention of Bawa amounts to a violation of his fundamental human rights.

The lawyer asked the secret police to release Bawa or charge him.

“When Bawa was suspended and detained, I joined other well-meaning Nigerians to hail the move by President Bola Tinubu,” the statement reads.

“Because the EFCC under Bawa violated fundamental human rights through reckless midnight gestapo raids on hotels and homes of innocent citizens.

“However, illegality should not beget another illegality. Without any contradiction, the continued detention of Bawa by the secret police for three straight weeks now is unconstitutional and a breach of the fundamental rights of the detainee.

“Illegality cannot beget another illegality. The DSS should immediately release Bawa to rejoin his family members or without further delays, charge him to court to face charges preferred against him by the federal government. Anything outside these two options is alien to law and won’t stand.”