The Council of Arewa Chiefs in southern Nigeria has demanded immediate release of the Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos and the Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Aminu Yaro.
This is just as they protested the continued detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) who took in Yaro for three days after questioning him in connection with the ongoing investigation of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Jarman Lagos, Yarima Shettima, in a statement demanded the immediate and unconditional release of their leader and his wife, adding that their detention is unlawful.
They also demanded the DSS to grant the couple immediate access to legal representation, medical attention and family members.
The Council said there has been no explanation on why Yaro and his wife were being held by the Department of State Services (DSS) for the last three days following what initially was a routine invitation which he dutifully honoured.
“The Council of Arewa Chiefs also understands that Sarkin Hausawa is being held in connection with the ongoing investigation of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
“The Council is not unaware of the friendship relationship between Sarkin Hausawa and Mr Godwin Emefiele just the way Emefiele is friends with many other chiefs and dignitaries all over the country and around the globe.
“What is regrettable is, however, the unexplained connection of a friend with the ongoing investigation of Mr Emefiele who till this moment, as far as the public is concerned, is only being accused of possession of unlicensed firearms.
“The council is concerned that the DSS might typically be used to hunt down respected leaders of the community using terrorism fight as a smoke screen,” the statement partly read.
Shettima said while the council was not challenging the power of the DSS and any security service in the country to invite any person for any of its investigations, the detention of the Yaro beyond 24 hours as stipulated in the law by the DSS, is “repugnant to the sensibilities of the traditional rulership system, the Arewa community and the Council of Chiefs.”
He told the DSS to prosecute him instead of holding him indefinitely without any trial.
The spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, was not forthcoming with any details, just saying “No comments please”.