The Department of State Services (DSS) has accused Maxwell Okpara, legal counsel for Godwin Emefiele, suspended Central Bank Governor, of having links to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed sect.

Via a tweet on Tuesday, the secret police described him as a “charge and bail” lawyer, a slur used to describe incompetent lawyers and lawyers regularly hanging around courts to scout for clients.

Tweeting via its known handle @OfficialDSSNG, the DSS said Okpara was mobilising lawyers against Yusuf Bichi, its director-general.

The tweet read, “Charge and bail, overzealous uninformed IPOB/ESN lawyer, Maxwell Okpara, mobilises other like-minded lawyers against DGSS. Futile Efforts. Well, Nigerians, beware! This is in bad faith. Transferred aggression.

“A Biafran Republic agitator and Outlawed IPOB counsel defending the suspended CBN Governor. Is IPOB defending one of theirs???? What a contradiction…..hmmm…what’s the connection? Is someone telling us something? May Maxwell be properly educated on points of law, please.”

Charge and bail, overzealous uninformed IPOB/ESN lawyer Maxwell Okpara mobilises other like minded lawyers against DGSS. Futile Efforts. Well, Nigerians, beware! This is in bad faith. Transferred
aggression.

— Department of State Services (DSS) (@OfficialDSSNG) July 18, 2023

The DSS arrested Emefiele on June 10, 2023, after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office.

On Thursday, an Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, ordered the DSS to charge or release Emefiele. The DSS responded by charging Emefiele for illegal possession of firearms.

The DSS’ latest statement may not be unconnected to the fact that Okpara and Ahmed Tijani led a team of 16 lawyers to file a contempt of court suit against Bichi at the federal high court on Monday.

FIJ called Peter Afunanya, spokesman for the secret police, to confirm this, but he declined our call. As of press time, he had not responded to a text message sent to him.