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Tag: DSS

  • APC to Police, DSS: investigate Atiku’s access to INEC server

    The All Progressives Congress(APC) Presidential Campaign Council has asked the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate claims by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar of obtaining information from the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which they were not supposed to have access to.

    Director of Strategic Communication off the Council, Festus Keyamo said in a petition in Abuja the information by the PDP candidate is a confirmation of earlier fears that the opposition party perfected ways of hacking the INEC server before the 2019 general election.

    Keyamo said the recent statement by Atiku revealed why the PDP was insisting President Muhammadu Buhari should sign the 2018 Electoral Act which recommend electronic transmission of election results.

    The petition reads: “It would be recalled that an Electoral (Amendment) Bill containing the provision for electronic transmission of results to INEC’s central computer system (otherwise called “server”) was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Assembly for assent late in the year 2018.

    “Despite the shortness of time before the Presidential/National Assembly Elections, and the lack of time to first simulate the process to ensure its effectiveness in a country like ours with problems of effective networks in many rural areas and constant failure of technological devices, together with its violation of the time frame of such laws as provided for in regional and continental Protocols in terms of the length of time required for the passage of such laws before any major election, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was hell-bent that the President should sign the Bill into law.

    “That was the first indication that the main opposition was up to something sinister regarding the electronic transmission of the results.

    “Upon the last-minute postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections, the nation was shocked to see already prepared presidential elections results floating around in the cyber space just less than 24 hours after the postponed election was originally billed to hold.

    “The fake results had details of the scores of the candidates of the major parties. Of course, the fake results gave victory to the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, even when elections did not hold.

    “The only conclusion one can draw from the above is that the PDP had prepared those results which were to be smuggled into the INEC Server.

    “However, the sudden postponement of the election scuttled that evil plan, but it was too late to restrain the release of the fake results.

    “The proper elections were held on February 23, 2019 and President Muhammadu Buhari declared the winner. Despite the approval of the elections as credible by nearly all local and international observers (except some few known PDP acolytes masquerading as local observers), the PDP cried foul and made a shocking claim: it claimed that from purported results it obtained from INEC’s server, it has so-called proof that its candidate won the election by about 1.6million votes!

    “Shockingly and coincidentally, this margin was about the same margin by which it also purportedly “won” by the fake results released just hours after the postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections.

    “As if this expensive joke was not enough, the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have gone ahead to file an Election Petition against the clear victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and have repeated the same outlandish claim of having access to INEC’s server which shows that they have some purported results at their disposal giving “victory” to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “We wish you to note that INEC’s server is the back end of electronic records of INEC. This is not INEC’s website but its server! Although, the purported results have been conclusively shown by public engagements to be false and even ridiculous, especially as the total number of accredited voters is exactly equivalent to the purported votes of the APC and PDP candidates, this criminal claim of the PDP has revealed that It is now clear that some criminally-minded PDP operatives have access to the INEC server to be able to smuggle in fake results into that server.

    “The only means by which they could have access to the INEC server is by the criminal hacking of the server or through the criminal conspiracy of some INEC officials.”

  • Don’t drag DSS into your assault on democracy- Group warns Wike

     

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has been warned against rubbishing the image and efforts of the Department of Security Service, DSS, to score cheap political points.

    National Democratic Front, which gave the warning, said Wike developed the habit of trying to compromise security agencies ahead of the Rivers State governorship election collation.

    NDF in a statement hailed DSS and Army personnel as professionals who can never be compromised and no amount of intimidation will force them to abandon the duty of safeguarding the country

    Comrade Jasper Ojua, the Publicity Secretary of the group said it was appalled that Wike has continued with his perverted mission of destroying the credibility of critical national institutions in his bid to make the state a breakaway region of Nigeria, with the Department of State Services (DSS) being his latest target.

    The statement warned that the attitude of undermining Nigeria for the interest of one individual is unacceptable in its totality.

    The statement reads below.

    The DSS was compelled to defend itself against Wike’s allegation that it was acting under instructions to undermine the electoral process in River state, which was suspended following elements of uncertainty, industrial scale violence and compromise of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Rivers State Governor.

    Read Also: Buhari leads in Alagomeji, Lagos

     

    The DSS is the most recent in the long list of Federal Agencies that Wike has falsely accused of interfering with the elections. The Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, upstanding INEC officials that resisted being compromised amongst others have been accused by the governor at one time or the other of working on instruction from Abuja.

     

    Wike might think he would be able to stave off judgement day indefinitely but lying that the DSS is working against the completion of the electoral process is disingenuous and will not avail him much especially when the world knows that he alone has to put an end to the orgy of violence he has mobilized against his own people for the process to resume and be concluded. The shock of being rejected by Rivers people, who have become wiser to his antics, is certainly what is making him hallucinate to the point of placing the blame on the doorsteps of agencies that have done much to prevent Rivers state from descending into chaotic hell.

     

    This behaviour of the part of the governor is not surprising since it is typical of a drowning of person to clutch at the air, but Wike should know that he must not drag the name of the DSS in the mud having failed in its attempt to blackmail the Nigerian Army, Police and INEC. Like the Nigerian Army that displayed utmost professionalism in line with grand norm, the DSS has professionally proven its mettle in the course of providing cover during the elections and should not be added to Wike’s shopping list of agencies to discredit because they did not compromise to avoid rigging.

     

    Perhaps Wike’s actual grouse with the DSS has more to do with his thug’s inability to impersonate the operatives of the service as they did with the military. He is also upset with the Service for blocking his attempts to promote separatist sentiments in River state. But same as Wike’s ‘boys’ were unable to impersonate the DSS, he should note that the service, like the Nigerian Army, will not compromise to partially take sides with him against the wishes of the electorates.

     

    Instead of throwing tantrums and hallucinating a non-existent gang-up of federal agencies against him, Wike should rather focus on articulating his defence at the expiration of his immunity when the people of Rivers state drag him before various judicial institutions over the theft of their resources, attempt to pervert their votes, murder of their loved ones, attempting to declare a Rivers state secession from Nigeria and radicalization of their youths into terrorists. By the time the consequences of these sins against his own people start coming home to roost he would definitely be blaming the Nigerian Prison Service for accepting to making him serve the resulting multiple jail terms.

     

    The National Democratic Front there advises Wike to desist from the already flopping strategy of discrediting security and military agencies in the hope that they will abandon Rivers state to allow him have the chance at successfully manipulating the elections. Even if he were to succeed in sending this agencies out of the state, which he is not constitutionally empowered to do, the rejection that he has suffered at the polls still stands and will not be reversed when the electoral process resumes and is completed with Rivers state remaining an integral part of Nigeria contrary to Wike’s wish to declare it a breakaway region.

     

  • DSS didn’t invite any National Commissioner, says INEC

    The Department of State Security ( DSS ) has not invited any National Commissioner or any top electoral official, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday.

    A section of the media reported on Tuesday morning that the National Commissioner on Logistics, Dr Okechukwu Ibeanu, for questioning.

    But INEC’s National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakbubu, said there was nothing like that.

    He warned politicians on the need to be cautious in their utterances so as not to heat up the polity.

    Yabuku spoke while giving updates on INEC preparation to stakeholders in Abuja.

    He also declared the commission has successfully deployed all the materials to states across the federation.

    He reiterated its preparedness to conduct credible elections come Saturday and on March 9.

    He also revealed that 95 percent of the Smart Card Readers have been reconfigured ahead of the scheduled time.

    Yakubu further assured the remaining 5 percent will be concluded by Wednesday.

    He also said it was not true that one of the suppliers of the Smart Cars Readers was involved in the configuration process, stressing that the configuration was done entirely by the staff of the commission.

    The INEC boss also said that the commission has not received any complaint of any missing result sheets from any part of the nation.

    He assured that the commission will do all it has to do to ensure that Saturday polls went well and is free, fair and credible.

     

    Update Later…

  • Why we arrested PDP spokesman – DSS

    The Kaduna state Command of the Department of state services ( DSS ) has explained that it arrested the Director General of the People’s Democratic Party campaign, Ben Bako because of inciting statement that if left unchecked, was capable of leading to a “complete breakdown of law and order in the state and beyond”.

    The PDP Campaign DG was arrested after a video in which he called for anybody that fails to vote for the PDP in the forthcoming election to be killed.

    The PDP in the state, however, said his arrest was part of a plan by the All Progressive Congress in the state to clamp down on opposition elements.

    But in a statement issued in Kaduna, the DSS said the PDP chieftain was arrested in order for him to “shed more light on his inciting statement.

    The statement signed by AI Koya, state director of Security of the state Command said “other people with similar tendencies are also being investigated and would equally face the same fate of found culpable.

    The statement reads: “On the 9th February, 2019, this service invited Mr. Ben. Bako to shed more light on his inciting statement and call for violence in the state. Earlier on the 7th February, 2019 Bako had addressed a rally at Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state.

    “During the rally, Bako was recorded calling his followers to kill anybody that votes for any party other than the PDP. The video has already gone viral through the social media.

    “Bako, a former commissioner for information in this state and a leader in his own right made this call along with other inviting statements at Kafanchan, deliberately with the intention to cause violence in the state.

    Read Also: Polls: DSS vows to deal with lawbreakers, purveyors of fake news

    “This development, if left unchecked, could lead to complete breakdown of law and order in this state and beyond. Consequently, Bako is under investigation by the service and would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed. Other people with similar tendencies are also being investigated and would equally face the same fate if found culpable.

    “The service assures the good people of Kaduna state that in collaboration with sister security agencies would ensure that citizens are free to exercise their right to freedom of association and choice without hindrance,” the statement read.

    But the PDP in the state has accused that the action of the DSS was premeditated, saying that, the party was aware of the ruling party’s plan arrest top leaders of the opposition party.

    Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Felix Hassan Hyat who addressed the press at the party’s secretariat in Kaduna said, “in the first week of December, 2018 we started hearing rumours that the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i in collaboration with State Security agencies will arrest strong PDP members, days before the elections.

    We took it as mere rumours. The reality is now on ground and the action has started.

    “On 2nd February, 2019, Alhaji Imam Lawal was escorted by security agents along Coronation Road, Kaduna in the evening. His car was thoroughly ransacked but nothing incriminating was found.

    “On Thursday, 7th February, 2019 Alhaji Audi Yaro, Makaman Rigachikun, a former State Chairman and National Ex-Officio was invited to the Kaduna State Police Command Headquarters. His crime was recalling the Campaign speech of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 General Elections, where Buhari as Presidential Candidate then has said in Hausa, “ku kasa, ku tsare, ku raka, ku jira, in ba a baku ba ku buge.”

    “On Saturday, 9th February, 2019, Hon. Ben Bako, a strong PDP member a former Commissioner of information in the State and now Director of Media in the present PDP Campaign Organization, was picked by operatives from DSS and taken to Abuja that same night and is yet to be released.

    “On Monday, 11th February, 2019, Alhaji Imam Lawal was again invited to the State DSS office where he was interrogated for sometimes before he was later released. On the same Monday, Alhaji Audi Yaro, Makaman Rigachikun, was again invited by the State DSS operatives and taken to Abuja and is yet to be released.

    “Democracy is seriously under threat in Nigeria, starting with Kaduna State. We as a Party will continue to fight the cause of justice to ensure that Democracy finds its roots firmly in Nigeria and Kaduna State in particular. Now that the security agencies have come out openly to fight the opposition Party in the State on behalf of the ailing ruling Party, we have no alternative than to view them as an integral part of the APC.

    “We want to use this opportunity to appeal to all our cherished supporters and the public to remain calm. Arresting our leaders cannot stop PDP being voted into office on 16h February and 2nd March, 2019 to replace an unwanted monster in the corridors of power loading it over innocent citizens humiliation/intimidation will only strengthen our resolve to keep on the struggle.

    Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the security agency for the arrests, saying that, Carriers of violent message to scuttle the democratic setting that has been set particularly the forthcoming election must be put under watch.

    Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Tuesday, Chairman of the party, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada and Director General of its Campaign Organization, Ben Kure said, carriers of violent message to scuttle the democratic setting that has been set particularly the election that is coming forth on Saturday the 16th of February 2019 must be put under close watch.

    According to them, “the will of government should not be tested. Attempt or an attempted attempt to try to scuttle the nursing democratic setting by way of conducting a peaceful election I want to believe will not be left without any question or measures taken. Therefore, the propagators of violence orchestrated by the PDP should be warned and other people who want to follow suit in order to scuttle the planned peaceful conduct of the elections that is coming on Saturday.

    “We have followed the PDP carefully and have understood that they are rolling out an orchestrated ground plan to scuttle this election. President Muhammadu Buhari will by the grace of God win, which we are confident of because of his integrity because of the leadership he provided in Nigeria that has restored peace in the country.”

  • Polls: DSS vows to deal with lawbreakers, purveyors of fake news

    The Department of State Services ( DSS ) has expressed determination to deal with lawbreakers, including those who may try to use violence and fake news to sabotage coming elections.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya in Abuja on Monday, the DSS emphasised preparedness to deal with politicians, electoral officers, voters and erring mass media whose acts run contrary to the Electoral Act and other laws.

    “The Service commits itself to the provision of adequate security throughout the period of the electoral process.

    “Politicians and the youth are expected to shun all acts of violence the same way observers are urged to keep to the fundamentals and principles of election monitoring as allowed by law and global best practice.

    “Without doubt, the Electoral Act is clear on the roles of stakeholders; the common aim of all and sundry should be for Nigeria to hold successful elections that will be adjudged free, fair, transparent and credible and accepted nationally and internationally.

    “Everyone is urged to conduct themselves properly before, during and after the elections and avoid actions that may cause breakdown of law and order,” the DSS spokesman stated.

    According to Afunanya, Nigerians should expect DSS’ uncompromising professionalism as it embarks on sustaining peace and ensuring security.

    “On its part, the DSS will professionally discharge its statutory mandate which, among others, is to detect and prevent threats and crimes against the internal security of Nigeria; also, it will appropriately engage stakeholders for the protection and success of the elections.

    “Similarly, the service will not condone fake news, incendiary or hate speeches designed to whip up dangerous ethnic, religious and/or political sentiments capable of stoking the embers of violence.

    “Consequently, prospective lawbreakers are forewarned to steer clear of acts capable of undermining national security and stability; the Service will, however, not stand idly and watch miscreants and mischief makers bring avoidable chaos and disorder upon the nation,” the DSS stated.

    Urging law-abiding citizens to go about their normal duties and participation in the elections, it also advised that the DSS should be reached via 07055655591, 09030002189 and dsspr@dss.gov.ng in case of vital information that requires DSS attention during the period.

  • PDP kicks as DSS arrests Kaduna PDP campaign spokesman

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked over the arrest of its Campaign Council’s Director of Media and Publicity in Kaduna State, Ben Bako, by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Nation gathered the campaign’s spokesman was arrested Saturday night and whisked to Abuja after honouring an invitation by the DSS office in Kaduna.

    His arrest, it was gathered, was informed by video clips that have gone viral on social media, showing Ben Bako making inciting comments during the PDP campaign rally in Kafanchan last week.

    However, reacting to the development in Kaduna Sunday afternoon at a press conference  Deputy Director General of the Campaign Organisation, Danjuma Sarki called for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ben Bako, arguing that, he has been harassed and illegally detained without trial for over 24 hours.

    Sarki also alleged the arrest of Ben Bako was part of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) goverment’s plan to intimidate and silence the opposition in the state.

    He alleged a number of party leaders including himself two former governors, former minister and former party chairman had been penciled down for arrest ahead of the elections.

    According to him: “We are very much aware that long before now,  the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, under the leadership of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has penned down a long list of influential PDP members in the state for intimidation, arrest and detention over spurious charges few days to the general elections. The list includes the following:

    “We also aware that several youth leaders of the PDP in the state, women leaders and  staunch supporters of the PDP, including some public commentators are also to be locked up shortly before the elections.

    “The plan is to lock away 150 leaders of the PDP at the State and Local Government Areas on trumped up charges of “hate speech” during campaign rallies. The intention is to send fears and weaken the spirit of the campaign or to stir crisis in the state.

    “But, unknown to governor El-Rufai and the DSS, the more he arrests us, the stronger the PDP gets.

    “It is too late to reverse the determination of the traumatised people of Kaduna state. They have been fleeced by a narrow group of friends and family under a government of tyranny, propaganda, bigotry, disunity and backwardness.

    “The world today is still outraged by the murderous threat of governor Nasir el-Rufai to International Election Observers, when he vowed that should any of them intervene contrary to the designs and expectation of the APC during and after elections, they would return home in body bags.

    “Curiously the Presidency, came out in full support of that crude, barbaric bravado which carries a costly diplomatic price, should any harm befall any International Election Observer in the course of their legitimate duty in Nigeria during the polls.

    “The PDP in Kaduna state will not be drawn into any violent conflict no matter the provocation. Let us reiterate for the records: The PDP in Kaduna state is determined and totally committed to a violent free polls.

    “No member or supporter of the PDP must be involved in breaking the law. In the same manner, the PDP is solid serious about ensuring that every vote cast in the state counts.”

    He called for the immediate redeployment of Kaduna State Director of the DSS, alleging he won’t be neutral.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked over the arrest of its Campaign Council’s Director of Media and Publicity in Kaduna State, Ben Bako, by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Nation gathered the campaign’s spokesman was arrested Saturday night and whisked to Abuja after honouring an invitation by the DSS office in Kaduna.

    His arrest, it was gathered, was informed by video clips that have gone viral on social media, showing Ben Bako making inciting comments during the PDP campaign rally in Kafanchan last week.

    However, reacting to the development in Kaduna Sunday afternoon at a press conference  Deputy Director General of the Campaign Organisation, Danjuma Sarki called for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ben Bako, arguing that, he has been harassed and illegally detained without trial for over 24 hours.

    Sarki also alleged the arrest of Ben Bako was part of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) goverment’s plan to intimidate and silence the opposition in the state.

    He alleged a number of party leaders including himself two former governors, former minister and former party chairman had been penciled down for arrest ahead of the elections.

    According to him: “We are very much aware that long before now,  the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, under the leadership of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has penned down a long list of influential PDP members in the state for intimidation, arrest and detention over spurious charges few days to the general elections. The list includes the following:

    “We also aware that several youth leaders of the PDP in the state, women leaders and  staunch supporters of the PDP, including some public commentators are also to be locked up shortly before the elections.

    “The plan is to lock away 150 leaders of the PDP at the State and Local Government Areas on trumped up charges of “hate speech” during campaign rallies. The intention is to send fears and weaken the spirit of the campaign or to stir crisis in the state.

    “But, unknown to governor El-Rufai and the DSS, the more he arrests us, the stronger the PDP gets.

    “It is too late to reverse the determination of the traumatised people of Kaduna state. They have been fleeced by a narrow group of friends and family under a government of tyranny, propaganda, bigotry, disunity and backwardness.

    “The world today is still outraged by the murderous threat of governor Nasir el-Rufai to International Election Observers, when he vowed that should any of them intervene contrary to the designs and expectation of the APC during and after elections, they would return home in body bags.

    “Curiously the Presidency, came out in full support of that crude, barbaric bravado which carries a costly diplomatic price, should any harm befall any International Election Observer in the course of their legitimate duty in Nigeria during the polls.

    “The PDP in Kaduna state will not be drawn into any violent conflict no matter the provocation. Let us reiterate for the records: The PDP in Kaduna state is determined and totally committed to a violent free polls.

    “No member or supporter of the PDP must be involved in breaking the law. In the same manner, the PDP is solid serious about ensuring that every vote cast in the state counts.”

    He called for the immediate redeployment of Kaduna State Director of the DSS, alleging he won’t be neutral.

  • DSS investigates alleged molestation of deaf pupils

    The Federal Government, the Department of State Security and the Police on Tuesday launched investigation into an alleged abuse of some pupils of the Abuja School for the Deaf in Kuje.

    There had been panic at the school after suspected ritualists invaded it, abducted and molested some pupils, while initiating some others.

    One of our correspondents learnt that some parents of affected pupils first raised the alarm about three weeks ago after they were said to have noticed some ugly developments on their children.

    The number or identity of the assailants was yet to be ascertained.

    A parent had claimed on Brekete (a breakfast programme on Human Rights radio) in Abuja on Tuesday that her son who attends the school had been molested.

    It was gathered some parents also brought the matter to the attention of the Federal Ministry of Education who contacted the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the government authorities overseeing the school.

    A source told one of our correspondents that DSS operatives were embedded in the school to verify the claim of alleged molestation of the pupils.

    The source said no case of molestation was found at the end of the investigation by the DSS.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, told one of our correspondents on telephone the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, was saddened by the alleged development in the school when he heard about it.

    He said the government immediately swung into action by carrying out a preliminary investigation into the matter.

    Echono said after the investigation, no single sign of molestation was found.

    The Permanent Secretary said the government again visited the school on Tuesday with a team of medical doctors and ordered a thorough examination of some of the pupils alleged to have been molested.

    Echono said 40 pupils were examined by a team of doctors and gynecologists and no sign of any form of molestation found on their bodies.

    The Permanent Secretary said: “We have done full investigation, involved the DSS and did surveillance for ten days.

    “We embedded DSS operatives among the staff claiming they were posted there just to be watching day and night in the school to try and find out if anything unusual is going on.

    “I called 64 different parents to find out if there had been any case, even of a child dying in the school not to talk about missing. There was no such case.

    “We did 40 examinations today physically with their parents, covered no such single case out of the 40 that we did today. Medical doctors and gynecologists, did the test today and not a single case have been found.

    “We are going to address a press conference when we finish.”

    A statement issued by the Assistant Director (Information), FCT Secretariat, Anthony Ogunleye said: “The attention of the Education Secretariat has been drawn to the alleged abuse of a pupil of the Abuja School for the Deaf Kuje as broadcast by an Abuja based radio station.

    “The Secretary for Education is deeply concerned by the very serious allegations especially since the well-being of a minor is concerned.

    “While the highly emotional broadcast has prompted an investigation by the Nigerian Police, the Secretary for Education has also ordered an internal investigation into the matter.

    “While we await the result of the investigation by the law enforcement agencies we want to assure all parents and guardians that their children and wards are quite safe in our custody.

    “We therefore enjoin them to remain calm and all enquiries can be sent to either the Secretary for Education or the Chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education Board.”

    When contacted, the Spokesperson for the FCT Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, simply said: “We are aware of the case and we are investigating it.”

  • DSS provided funds I gave Lawan, says Otedola

    BUSINESSMAN Femi Otedola said in Abuja yesterday that the Department of State Services (DSS)  provided the $500,000 he offered former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan.

    Otedola stated this at the resumption of his testimony as a prosecution witness in the trial of Lawan before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja.

    Lawan is being tried for allegedly demanding and accepting  money from Otedola to remove his companies from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy fraud.

    He was accused by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) of accepting bribe.

    At yesterday’s proceedings, Otedola, who dressed in a white agbada, sat in the witness box during the proceedings that lasted over an hour. He was cross-examined by Lawan’s lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

    Otedola said the DSS gave him the money after he wrote a petition, complaining among others that Lawan demanded $3 million as bribe from him to remove his oil company from the list of the firms indicted by Lawan’s panel for subsidy scam.

    Odetola said he petitioned the DSS immediately Lawan demanded the bribe. He explained that the $500,000 formed part payment of the $3m  that Lawan demanded.

    He said he handed the money to Lawan under the supervision of the DSS.

    Otedola said: “Lawal said he was going to exonerate my company after giving him the money.”

    He said after he informed the DSS, the agency mounted security cameras in his living room to capture the exchange of money between him and the defendant.

    When asked if he was in possession of the video of the meeting, he said it was  with the DSS.

    The businessman said he gave Lawan the $500,000 in two tranches of $250,000 each.

    When reminded by Ozekhome that the best time “to catch a thief is when the operation is ongoing”, Otedola said he does not know why the DSS failed to arrest Lawan at that moment.

    Justice Angella Otaluka has adjourned further hearing to March 8.

  • Polls: Security threats real but surmountable, says DSS

    WIDESPREAD anxiety over irregularities, violence and insecurity during the forthcoming elections are real, the Department of State Security (DSS) has said.

    It, however, said security agents, voters, political leaders and other stakeholders can work together to surmount such fears in a timely manner.

    Director of DSS-owned Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Abuja Alhaji A.S. Adeleke stated the agency’s position yesterday at a two-day security awareness seminar in Abuja.

    He emphasised the commitment of the DSS’ current leadership under Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi to the country and its citizens.

    He urged Nigerians to help ensure that the nation’s best interest prevails.

    At the seminar with the theme, “Securing the 2019 general elections: The role of critical stakeholders” security agents, representatives of various unions and resource persons, including a criminologist, Prof. Etannibi Alemika and Prof. M.O. Maduagwu also echoed the DSS’ concern and prospects of surmounting security challenges.

    Adeleke said: “The security of an electoral process is crucial, not just in ensuring a free, fair and credible outcome‚ but also fundamental to attainment of national security.

    “Unfortunately, electoral processes and democratic transition in Nigeria, between 1964 and 2018, have been generally marred by irregularities, violence and general insecurity.

    “Given the myriad of prevailing security challenges and anticipated threats to the 2019 general elections, which are barely a few weeks away, the general trepidation over safety of men, materials and the entire process, as well as the fear of possible negative outcomes, is justified.

    “As critical stakeholders, we therefore, cannot, afford to sit on the fence; all hands must be on deck to swiftly put in place, adequate measures to contain potential threats to the electoral process.

    “We must each play our role and complement efforts of the electoral umpire and security agencies; we must be conscious of the reality, that central to every credible election is the proper management and security of electoral personnel, CSOs, election materials, location, deployments and movements.”

  • Breaking: Court restrains EFCC, Police from arresting Fani-Kayode, Odumakin

    An Abuja Federal High Court, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police from arresting or detaining Femi Fani-Kayode and Yinka Odumakin.

    Justice John Tsoho, gave the order on Monday, following an ex parte application argued by Mr Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume (SAN) on behalf of the duo.

    Machukwu-Ume told the court that the three security agencies were planning to arrest and detain his clients over comments they made with regard to the travails of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    “The spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Tony Orilede, was alleged to have made the threat to arrest them publicly at a conference where he represented the EFCC chairman.

    Read Also: Court restates order stopping CCT from forcing CJN to vacate office

    “He said they are doing everything possible to arrest these two gentlemen just for speaking their minds.

    “The EFCC is established to pursue corruption and not comments made by Nigerians, expressing themselves,” he said.

    The lawyer told the court that his clients had gone into hiding for fear of being arrested for merely expressing their freedom of speech, alleging that their family lives had also been affected by the alleged threat.

    Machukwu-Ume told the court that the application was brought pursuant to Section 6 (6)(b) and Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Order 4 Rules 3 of the Fundamental Rights Procedure Rules.

    He urged the court to grant the order restraining the respondents from arresting and detaining his clients pending the determination of the application on notice.

    Justice Tsoho said that he was satisfied that the applicants had made a case that their lives were being threatened.

    “I am satisfied that the applicants have made out a case for the court’s intervention.
    “Accordingly, the respondents are restrained from either arresting or detaining the applicants on grounds of the applicants’ public statements pending the determination of the application on notice,” the judge ruled.

    The Judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 4.