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Tag: DSS

  • Security threats: DSS prepares new leadership cadre for future challenges

    In response to evolving security threats, the Department of State Security (DSS) is preparing new cadres of future leadership versed in strategic thinking and operational effectiveness, the Director-General of DSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, has said.

    Speaking during the graduation of senior DSS officers, the pioneer batch of the DSS Institute for Security Studies’ Advanced Strategic Policy and Management Course (ASPMC) in Abuja, Alhaji Bichi, said the service was implementing new initiatives to enhance senior officers’ analytical capabilities for greater effectiveness in enhancing national security.

    He said: “The new programme (ASPMC) has offered the service another platform of building capacity for addressing the myriad of security challenges confronting the nation. I’m confident that the participants have acquired the necessary skills to provide good leadership in their respective duty posts.

    Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Mr. Raji R. Rabi, a director who was the Monitor-General of the ASPMC course participants, explained that the course has excellently prepared them for future national challenges.

    “The course has actually enhanced and broadened our knowledge not only on national affairs but global issues and its impact on national security and development; our task as security managers is to understand these changes, utilise them for human progress by submitting timer and accurate data to assist political leaders to formulate national policies in favour of Nigerian citizens and good governance,” he said.

  • Why we took Melaye to DSS, by Police

    Senator Dino Melaye’ temporary relocation to the Department of State Security (DSS) on Friday was part of preliminary arrangements for his coming trial in Lokoja, Kogi state, the Nigeria Police Force has explained.

    Speaking exclusively with The Nation, police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, stated that Melaye was taken by policemen to the medical facilities of the DSS and not their cell or detention facilities.

    He said despite claims by the embattled Senator, the police medical team has been unable to find anything to confirm he has any infirmity that could delay his trial in Lokoja.

    “On the 9th of January, 2019 we got a High Court Remand Warrant to keep him in police custody for fourteen days.

    “The police medical team at our facility examined him and concluded that he was okay to stand trial but he is insisting that he is not okay; that is why we are taking him to another government hospital.

    “He has been taken to the DSS hospital and he will be returned to us after their medical examination because he does not have any case with SSS.

    Read Also: Masked policemen whisk away Senator Dino Melaye

    “He only a case with the police and we are going to take him to court within the period covered by the Remand Warrant.

    “He will be taken to court within the period because the Remand Warrant is from an FCT High court, which gives us the permission to keep him in police custody for 14 days.

    “He was only taken to their (SSS) hospital; he is not in their custody.

    “Our people have examined him and we want another government hospital to also examine him and give a medical opinion.”

    While promising to issue an official statement later on Friday night, the police spokesman also dismissed claims Melaye was taken away from police medical facilities by masked men.

  • SON destroys N8.4m fake goods in Kano

    Standards Organization Of Nigeria ( SON ) has destroyed fake and substandard goods worth over N8.4m in Kano.

    The substandard items which were confiscated towards the end of 2018 from markets across the state include 83 bags of 25 kg rice, 275 bags of Mosquito coils, I90 cartons of shaving sticks, NOCACO Cables, 6 bags of fertilizer, 146 trays of brake fluid and 7 bales of empty sacks of rice.

    SON Northwest Regional Coordinator, Alhaji Adamu Abba who represented the Director General Anthony Aboloma at the destruction of the items, revealed that the goods were impounded, following a tip-off from the markets, in collaboration with sister agencies and effort of the organisational staff.

    He said SON does not derive pleasure in destroying inferior items considering the economic waste and associated with the environmental pollution from the burning of the goods.

    Read Also: FRSC recruits 4,650 personnel, begins training nationwide

    According to him, there is need for manufacturers and distributors of such items to know how committed the organisation is in protecting the rights and safety of consumers from being shortchanged.

    “We need to ensure that in line with our mandate, we do not spear anybody involved in production and distribution of such goods.”

    Also speaking the Kano –Jigawa Coordinator of SON, Alhaji Yunusa B. Muhammad said all necessary procedure were followed before burning the fake items such as securing a court order that gave the body the rights to conduct the burning of the goods.

    The destruction exercise were witnessed by Police, customs, NAFDAC, DSS, NESREA, CIVIL DEFENCE, and Kano consumer protection council.

  • How DSS bust plot to print N20b fake naira notes, by investigator

    THE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard how the Department of State Services (DSS) uncovered a plot to print counterfeit naira notes worth N20 billion.

    DSS Principal Officer in Charge of Investigation in Lagos Peter Uche said the agency acted on a tip off.

    He was testifying in trial of Mr. John Elem, who was charged with attempting to print the fake notes.

    Prosecuting counsel Mr. E.K. Ugwu told Justice Saliu Saidu that the defendant violated the Counterfeit Currency Offences Act, 2004.

    Uche, the first prosecution witness, led in evidence by Ugwu, said the DSS received a petition against Edem signed by Mr. Francis Okowa.

    He said the petition was delivered to him in his office on December 7, 2016 at about 4pm by “Mr. Grant” from the law firm of Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN).

    He said Okowa, Tarfa’s client, alleged that Edem was plotting to print naira notes worth N20 billion.

    Uche said: “Based on the petition, I went to my director and immediately a team was constituted to identify and arrest him.

    “The following day, around 2pm, we were able to apprehend the suspect along Governor’s Drive, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

    “The team was split into two: one to go and search his house while the other was to search his company.

    “I led the team that went to his house on Banana Island in the evening of the same day.

    “We met someone in his house. So, we tendered a search warrant and subjected ourselves to body search by the defendant and the person in his house.

    “We went into the house and recovered items that we believe support the petition.

    “Some of the items were 92 pieces of golden colour holograms, a textbook and handbooks on how to print currencies. We also recovered a manual numbering machine.”

    He said he took two statements from Edem on December 9 and 11, 2016, adding that although the defendant denied the allegation, the items recovered from his house supported the charge.

    Justice Saidu admitted in evidence the 92 pieces of golden colour holograms, which the witness said were recovered from the closet in Edem’s master bedroom.

    The judge also admitted in evidence a textbook entitled: “Optical document on security”, the handbooks said to contain instructions on how to print currencies and the manual numbering machine.

    The two statements by the defendant were also admitted as exhibits.

    The trial continues today.

  • ‘How DSS bust plot to print N20b fake naira’

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday heard how the Department of State Services ( DSS ) uncovered a plot to print counterfeit naira notes worth N20billion.

    DSS Principal Officer in Charge of Investigation in Lagos, Peter Uche, said the agency acted on a tip off.

    He was testifying in trial of Mr John Elem, who was charged with attempting to print the fake notes.

    Prosecuting counsel Mr E.K. Ugwu told Justice Saliu Saidu that the defendant violated the Counterfeit Currency Offences Act, 2004.

    Uche, the first prosecution witness, led in evidence Ugwu, said the DSS received a petition against Edem signed by Mr Francis Okowa.

    Read Also: Gabon: Two suspects killed, seven captured in failed coup attempt

    He said the petition was delivered to him in his office on December 7, 2016 at about 4pm by “Mr Grant” from the law firm of Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN).

    He said Okowa, Tarfa’s client, alleged that Edem was plotting to print naira notes worth N20billion.

    Uche said: “Based on the petition, I went to my director and immediately a team was constituted to identify and arrest him.

    “The following day, around 2pm, we were able to apprehend the suspect along Governor’s Drive, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

    “The team was split into two: one to go and search his house while the other was to search his company.

    “I led the team that went to his house on Banana Island in the evening of the same day.

    “We met someone in his house; so, we tendered a search warrant and subjected ourselves to body search by the defendant and the person in his house.

    “We went into the house and recovered items that we believe support the petition.

    “Some of the items were 92 pieces of golden colour holograms, a textbook and handbooks on how to print currencies. We also recovered a manual numbering machine.”

    He said he took two statements from Edem on December 9 and 11, 2016, adding that although the defendant denied the allegation, the items recovered from his house supported the charge.

    Justice Saidu admitted in evidence the 92 pieces of golden colour holograms, which the witness said were recovered from the closet in Edem’s master bedroom.

    The judge also admitted in evidence a textbook entitled: Optical document on security, the handbooks said to contain instructions on how to print currencies and the manual numbering machine.

    The two statements by the defendant were also admitted as exhibits.

    The trial continues Tuesday, Jan. 8.

  • DSS releases Aisha Buhari’s ex-ADC

    THE Department of State Services (DSS) has released the former ADC to First Lady Aisha Buhari, CSP Mohammed Baba-Inna, who was once alleged to have collected huge sums of money on her behalf.

    In a statement, the DSS spokesman, Mr. Peter Afunanya, stated that DSS has now returned the police officer to police authorities, who were investigating him before the DSS put him into custody and took over the investigation.

    However, the DSS is yet to reveal when an alleged fraudster variously known as Amina Mohammed, Justina Oluoha and Amina Villa, who was paraded at DSS headquarters in Abuja on December 3, would be taken before a court of law.

    Read also: Killed at Yuletide

    During the parade of the suspect, the DSS spokesman had said that Amina, who proclaimed her innocence had “unauthorised access to the Presidential Villa and used the name and office of the First Lady to engage in a fraudulent acts”.

    However, in his statement, Afunanya explained that the release of CSP Baba-Inna does not amount to acquittal in any form as police authorities are to make further investigations.

  • Police, DSS block striking National Assembly workers from complex

    •Lawmakers set to receive 2019 budget today

    POLICE and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives yesterday blocked striking members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) from the National Assembly complex.

    The measure may not be unconnected with fears that the industrial action may negatively affect the smooth presentation of 2019 Appropriation Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, which is scheduled for today.

    The operatives also took the action following a statement by the assembly management that Nigerians should hold the security agencies responsible, if the President was unable to present the budget proposal as scheduled.

    The management also directed the PASAN members to stay at home as plenary resumed at the two chambers.

    Only vehicles belonging to lawmakers and senior staff were allowed into the complex.

    However, the industrial action took a toll on the two chambers yesterday with many senators and members of the House not attending plenary.

    Some of the lawmakers, who saw the intimidating number of angry workers at the main gate to the assembly complex, made a detour, apparently to avoid being caught in a web of crisis.

    But, findings showed that the Inspector-General (IG), Ibrahim Idris and the DSS Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, did not deploy fresh operatives to the complex as requested by the Assembly management

    The Assembly leadership had late on Monday night asked the police and the DSS to ensure adequate security within the vicinity of the National Assembly from yesterday to enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hindrance.

    The directive was said to have been given after a meeting of the joint leadership of the two chambers with the management and representatives of the security agencies.

    The meeting was also said to have been initiated by the assembly leadership to listen to the management, led by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mohammed Sani-Omolori, on efforts made so far to address the grievances of the striking staff.

    But, Senate yesterday resolved to hold a joint session with members of the House of Representatives to receive the President’s 2019 budget estimates.

    The resolution followed a communication by the President, which sought audience to present the Appropriation Bill at a joint session of the National Assembly.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki read the presidential letter on the floor of the upper chamber.

    The same letter was read and adopted in the House of Representatives last week.

    The sitting of the Senate was delayed because the upper chamber could not form the required quorum of 37 members.

    A head count of senators in the chamber showed that less than 30 members attended plenary.

    Saraki entered the chamber around 12.10pm to behold an empty Senate.

    The Senate President was not deterred as he went on to conduct the business of the day around 12.30pm.

    To show the severity of the situation, only two items on the Order Paper were accommodated before the lawmakers adjourned plenary at 1.05pm

    The House also emphasised its readiness for the joint session to go on as planned.

    Read also: Gunmen kill ex-Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh

    It followed the adoption of a motion by the Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who explained that the reason behind the few number of lawmakers on the floor was due to the on-going strike by PASAN.

    With less than 50 lawmakers were on the floor, they resolved that the budget proposal presentation is critical to the nation and industrial action by the workers should not be allowed to truncate it.

    The Deputy speaker, Yussuff Lasun, who presided over plenary, said the grievances of the striking workers were being looked into as work on a bill to address the issue comprehensively has been concluded and sent to the Senate for concurrence.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and their House of Representatives counterpart yesterday held a closed door meeting to strategise on how to protect the President during the budget presentation.

    A source in the meeting told The Nation that the meeting dealt with pending issues, including how to ensure that Buhari received a fair deal during and after the budget presentation today.

    The source noted that APC senators and their House of Representatives counterpart felt duty bound to protect the President to ensure that he is not in any way embarrassed during and after the budget presentation.

    He said: “Some people might be plotting to hackle Mr. President, but it is our resolve to give him necessary support and boost throughout his stay in the National Assembly.”

    One of the attendees at the meeting, Imo State APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, told reporters that he left Imo State to attend the budget presentation session because of its importance.

     

  • Judge gives EFCC, DSS others 72hrs to arrest ex-Petroleum minister

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and all other security agencies yesterday got an order to arrest a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke within 72 hours.

    Justice Valentine Ashi of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, gave the order.

    According to a press statement signed by acting spokesperson to the EFCC Mr Tony Orilade  it  had prayed for an order of the court, to issue a warrant of arrest against Madueke, to enable the Commission apprehend and arraign her for alleged financial crimes in Nigeria.

    The said that the commission investigated the former minister and a former Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, Mr. Jide Omokore, following a petition dated October 2, 2013, from the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), bordering on money laundering and official corruption.

    Read also: Alleged graft: Court grants EFCC leave to arraign Diezani

    Orilade said in the statement that Mrs. Alison-Madueke as supervising minister of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was found to have engaged in alleged illicit and monumental fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, which she entered into on behalf of the Federal Government.

    The statement reads: “Mrs. Alison-Madueke and Omokore, are also alleged to have accepted and given gifts in properties located at Penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, Banana Island, Lagos, they are to be arraigned on February 25, 2019 on a five-count charge for the offences, which are contrary to Sections 26(1) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000

    “The court also granted the ex parte motion, and ordered the security agencies to provide Mrs. Alison-Madueke within 72 hours, for her to face the charge preferred against her

    “The Inspector-General of Police, the Chairman of the EFCC, the Attorney-General, the Department of State Services, are hereby ordered in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to apprehend and arrest the first defendant and produce her before the court for further directives within 72 hours.”

  • Insecurity: Army, DSS, Navy, others hold Show of Force in Southeastern States

    Major streets of the six States under the 82 Division of Nigerian Army (NA) witnessed heavy movement of soldiers and personnel of other sister security agencies including DSS, Air Force and Naval Personnel as they hold a Joint Show of Force (JSOF) operation.

    The Nation gathered that the exercise was said to be in line with the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s Vision; “To have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles”.

    Some of the States where the exercise simultaneously held include Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State respectively.

    A release issued by the 82 Division Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Musa Sagir about the military exercise which was obtained by The Nation has it that the exercise was aimed at ensuring that security agencies in the South East Zone, jointly work as a team, to decisively and professionally deal with the complex security situations as they unfold in the zone.

    According to Sagir, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Kabuk in his remarks before the commencement of the exercise in Enugu, Enugu State, stated that the JSOF is simultaneously been conducted in the entire 82 Division Area of Responsibility.

    Sagir quoting Kabuk said “In the face of emerging security challenges and the impending general elections, the need to warn criminals, saboteurs and other trouble makers in our Area of Responsibility to stay clear becomes imperative”. Hence, it is necessary we occasionally and jointly conduct this exercise.”

    Kabuk in the release further made it clear that the JSOF was not targeted at any individual or group, but is meant to send strong signal/warning that anyone who disturbs public peace will be professionally and decisively dealt with.

    According to Sagir, while troops of 13 Brigade conducted the exercise in Calabar Municipality, 8th Mile, Tinapa axis and major streets of the city and adjoining communities, the 34 Brigade Owerri troops and other agencies moved within Owerri metropolis and Okigwe general areas. As their counterparts of 302 Artillery General Support Regiment Onitsha, troops in conjunction with other sister agencies moved around Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha axis.

    In Ebonyi State, troops of 24 Field Engineer Support Regiment marched across Ezzangbo, Ezillo, Ishielu, Ohoazara, Nkalagu and Onicha Communities of along Afikpo road and across major streets of Abakaliki township.

    Our reporter who monitored the exercise in Abia State has it that personnel of Goodluck Jonathan’s Barracks,14 Brigade Army Headquarters, Ohafia, in conjunction with other security agencies such as Road Safety, Civil Defence, Mobile Police Force moved round the state, touching designated places in Aba including Ariaria Market, Alaoji Spare Parts Market, Azikiwe Road, Aba-Owerri Road.

    Other areas covered during the exercise in Abia includes Umuahia city center, Ovim, Uturu, Afara Ukwu (Home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu), Arochukwu, Akanu in Bende Local Government Council, Amepkwu and Ohafia General Area of Responsibility.

    Our reporter gathered that the movement by the joint security operatives caused pandemonium in Aba and Umuahia respectively as many feared that it was a signal that the much awaited Egwueke (Python Dance) III has just commenced.

    But a source at the 14 Brigade who pleaded not to be mentioned debunked the insinuations, stating that the public shall be notified when Egwueke III will commence.

    The source added that the exercise was preemptive measures by the security agencies to ensure that Abia was safe for people to live and do their businesses and warned any person or group of persons that wish to foment trouble in the state to have a rethink or be ready to face the consequences of their actions as the security agencies would not fold their arms to see some disgruntled elements disrupt the minimal peace achieved in the state by security agencies.

  • My encounter with DSS, by Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday, confirmed reports that he was interviewed by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) aka State Security Service (SSS) last Sunday, over corruption allegations arising from the recently concluded primaries in the ruling party.

    But he downplayed suggestions that he was “arrested” saying “it was an interaction and not interrogation. I drove there in my car and returned in my car. The conversation centered around APC primaries. The question now is whether or not it is the DSS job to interfere in a political party’s issues. And if there’s an allegation of corruption, it is the responsibility of EFCC and ICPC.”

    He dismissed calls by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for his arrest, and for the president not to shield him, as ridiculous. He said if the tables were turned and it had been PDP Chairman Uche Secondus who had been invited by the DSS, petitions would have been tabled before the UN by now.

    The Nation had reported yesterday that Oshiomhole was held hostage at the DSS at the behest of some governors and other forces within the party, and that the officers demanded that he resign as APC national chairman on account of the allegations of malpractices made against him.

    He, however, stood his ground and rebuffed all pressure mounted on him to step down – insisting he committed no crime.

    Speaking yesterday with media executives in Lagos, Oshiomhole stated that it was inconceivable for DSS officers to have made such a demand of him.

    “It is inconceivable that Department of State Services’ officials or directors will ask the chairman of a political party whether of the right or of the left, whether of the opposition or of the governing party to resign, because the party has its own structure,” he said. “If I were to resign, will I be addressing the letter to the director? Or will I be addressing the letter to someone through the director?”

    He equally denied reports that following last Sunday’s visit to the security agency, he returned there again during the week.

    Concerning the grievances of Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, whose preferred aspirants lost out in the primaries’ process, the APC chairman said there was nothing personal to his disagreement with governors. He acknowledged the support of Okorocha who he said was present at his declaration and gave him very vocal backing thereafter. But he would not let friendship get in the way of the enforcement of the party’s guidelines.

    He further said he was very close friends with Amosun, but said the governor’s case was fundamentally flawed by the fact that his preferred candidate didn’t take part in the primaries conducted by the supervisory panel set up by the National Working Committee (NWC).

    Oshiomhole pointed out that unlike Amosun’s favoured aspirant Adekunle Akinlade, the governor subjected himself to the National Assembly primaries organised by the official panel from the APC headquarters and won. Consequently, his name has been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as one of the party’s three senatorial candidates in Ogun State.

    With regards to the situation in Zamfara State where INEC has refused to accept the party’s nominee for the governorship election, on the grounds that APC failed to conduct its primaries before the deadline day, he restated his belief that the courts would prevail on the electoral body to accept that name of the ruling party’s candidate. He said there was ample evidence to show that the primaries process was concluded before the window slammed shut.

    Reacting to reports that the party had been weakened in Ogun and Imo because of the disputes over the governorship ticket, Oshiomhole claims that the reverse was the case. “We are much stronger now. There are people who wouldn’t have voted for us if we had allowed some of the governors to foist their preferred choices on the party,” he said.

    He said the possibility that some of those who lost out could move to other platforms to run, could not be ruled out as people are always defecting from one side to another. Still he insists that many would still vote for the APC because of their attraction to the character and integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Despite the bitter public exchanges with prominent party members in recent times, Oshiomhole says the process of reconciliation is ongoing. He expects the party’s eventual candidates in contentious states like Ogun, Imo and Zamfara, to reach out and win the backing and confidence of their state governors.

    He further stated that as part of the reconciliation process, some of the aggrieved who lost out during the primaries, could be given opportunities to serve in the Federal Government controlled by the APC.