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Tag: DSS

  • DSS asked me ‘irrelevant’ questions, says Ekiti commissioner

    Barely 24 hours after he was released  by the Department of State Services (DSS), Ekiti State Finance Commissioner Toyin Ojo said the alleged crackdown was aimed at intimidating the Ayo Fayose administration.

    Speaking with reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday on his ordeal, Ojo claimed that most of the questions posed to him by his interrogators were based on “mere hearsay”.

    Describing the questions as “irrelevant and baseless”, Ojo said he was grilled on the refund of money spent on federal roads, which he said had not been paid into the state’s coffers as widely believed.

    The commissioner said he was quizzed on ecological funds allegedly misappropriated, admitting that the Fayose administration got N2 billion from the Federal Government  in 2015 and not in 2014 as alleged.

    Ojo said: “They asked me irrelevant questions. For instance, they asked what happened to about N1.4 billion that the state received on the Ado-Ifaki Road.

    “ I told them I wasn’t aware that any such money was paid into the government’s account since I came on board.

    “I said though the President promised a refund of the money during the campaign but I’m not aware of such money coming into our account.

    “The invasion or arrest is just a plan to intimidate the government of Ekiti but it has failed woefully because it lacked merit in itself.

    “It has no iota of truth in it. Everything they asked me was based on rumours. They lacked substance and were grossly unfounded.

    “They also asked me of what we did to the ecological fund given to the state in 2014 and I explained to them that we got about N2 billion in 2015 not in 2014 and that the money had been appropriately utilised.

    “I made it clear to them that no amount of money would come into the state’s account without my knowledge because the bank would alert me once it comes.

    “My impression of the invasion is that the exercise is just being orchestrated.

    “Our management of revenue and resources is prudent and transparent.”

  • DSS releases Ekiti Finance Commissioner

    DSS releases Ekiti Finance Commissioner

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance Toyin Ojo.

    Ojo was released late Tuesday night after a four-day grilling on financial transactions bordering on alleged diversion of N5.8 billion refund on federal roads and N2.4 billion Ecological funds.

    “Yes, the Ekiti Finance Commissioner has been released  after making useful statement to his interrogators on the finances of the state.

    “The statement he volunteered would assist us in our investigations,” a DSS source said yesterday night.

    Governor Ayo Fayose arrived the state yesterday from Abuja where he had been attending Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus meetings since Sunday.

    He criticised the DSS , saying the state’s financial records are available to the Federal Government.

    Fayose vowed not to stop  criticising the Federal Government.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose expressed confidence in the House of Assembly members.

    The governor said he remained resolute in his determination to criticise “obnoxious policies of the president in the interest of Nigeria and our democracy”.

    Fayose said: “People with God are in the majority. This is not the first time people will harass me.

    “It is a conspiracy and it will collapse like other previous attempts. I will remain critical of the activities of the Federal Government, especially when they do things that are inimical to the welfare of Nigerians.

    “Imagine the questions they asked my commissioner. They asked him if the Federal Government has reimbursed the government on works done on federal roads. But the records are with them in Abuja, can’t they check?

    “We have nothing to hide and they are only chasing shadows and are time wasters.”

    Answering question on the allegation that some people offered some lawmakers $1 million to impeach him, the governor passed a vote of confidence on the lawmakers.

    He added: “I know that our lawmakers are solid guys and their future and mine are tied together.”

  • Senate to probe DSS invasion of Ekiti Assembly

    Senate to probe DSS invasion of Ekiti Assembly

    The Senate Wednesday mandated its committee on National Security and Intelligence to investigate alleged invasion of Ekiti State House of Assembly by some personnel of the Department of State Security (DSS).

    This followed a motion by Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) entitled “The invasion of Ekiti State House of Assembly by armed men of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) on Friday , March 4, 2016.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who gave the committee two weeks to submit detailed report of what transpired in the State House of Assembly, noted that the Senate would however not jump into conclusion without investigation.

    Saraki described the alleged invasion of the House of Assembly as a serious issue but insisted that the matter raised by Senators was such that the Senate should not jump into hasty conclusion on the issue.

    Olujimi in her lead debate noted that the Senate should be alarmed that on Friday March4, 2016, the hallowed chamber of the Ekiti State House of Assembly was invaded by armed men of the DSS.

    She said that the Senate should be further alarmed that not minding the various committees of the House were meeting, more than 10 DSS men who were armed to the teeth invaded the Assembly complex, shooting sporadically into the air, thereby causing panic among members and staff of the House, who had to scamper for safety and were afraid for their lives.

    The lawmaker said that she was concerned that at the end of the commotion created by the barbaric act, four members of the House of Assembly could not be found.

    She noted that news filtered in during the weekend that Hon. Afolabi Akanni, the member representing Efon Constituency was abducted and taken to Abuja.

    She described the action of the DSS operatives as not only unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful but a plot calculated to harass, intimidate and embarrass the people and government of Ekiti State.

    Olujimi recalled that in September 2015, the Akwa Ibom State Government House was invaded by armed men of the same DSS without any formal explanation as to the reason for the invasion.

    She noted that there was no doubt that embarking on political vendetta and muzzling of the opposition was dangerous to the survival of democracy in the country.

    The lawmaker noted that she is persuaded that the action of the security operatives is outside the scope of the mandate of the service.

    The National Assembly, as the highest lawmaking body in the country, he said, must step in to defend and uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which they were elected to uphold.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in his contribution, said that if nothing is done to check the excesses of the men of the DSS, the next place they will invade might be Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that the Legislative Privileges Act should form the basis of whatever action the Senate wanted to take on the matter.

    He noted that no stranger should enter any legislative house with the permission of the Speaker of the Senate President.

    Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah in his contribution noted that it will be nice and politically expedient for the Senate to take judicial notice of the fact that Ekiti State has always been subject of breaking the law.

    He recalled the state Chief Judge was once beaten and chased away.

    Na’ Allah said that the Senate should threat with caution on the issue of alleged invasion of the State House of Assembly.

    Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume said that the motion came at a time the Senate should stand firm.

    He noted that democracy is made up of three arms with different duties.

    He said that the allegation of invasion if true was wrong.

  • Lawyer: DSS erred on Ekiti Assembly

    Lawyer and rights activist Mike Ozekhome yesterday condemned the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly by the Department of State Services (DSS), saying it was an affront on democracy.

    He demanded the release of a lawmaker, Afolabi Akanni (Efon) or his arraignment in court.

    Ozekhome said in a statement that the invasion was curious and condemnable, adding that the hallowed chamber had been desecrated.

    He said: “The action of the DSS in invading the Ekiti State House of Assembly and taking away a lawmaker is condemnable and undemocratic.

    “A House of Assembly is hallowed and sacred and should never be desecrated on any account.

    “The DSS is established primarily for security matters and for intelligence gathering within Nigeria, for the protection of senior government officials. It is neither the police nor the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “The invasion is more curious and detestable, happening as it did, in Ekiti State where Governor Ayodele Fayose has been a well known critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, his government and his All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The impression must not be given that the present government, which rode to power on the crest of popular opposition and critical dissent, is muzzling the opposition or brow beating and intimidating those who hold different opinions.

    “The invasion of a House of Assembly is a very serious thing which goes against democratic practice and the rule of law.

    “Our constitutional democracy envisages robust opposition because power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

    “Nigeria’s freedoms, liberties and rights should be allowed to flourish and should not be abridged or decimated on the altar of political expediency.

    “Power itself is ephemeral. Its wielders should always act with discretion, respect for the constitution and extant laws.”

     

  • DSS arrests Boko Haram arms manufacturer, gun runner

    DSS arrests Boko Haram arms manufacturer, gun runner

    Three men with suspected link to the terror sect, Boko Haram, are now being interrogated by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly manufacturing arms for the insurgents and for seeking a foreign embassy’s help to fight terrorist activities in Nigeria.

    Also in the custody of the agency are three other men suspected to be members of Ansaru, another terror sect.

    The Ansaru members were said to be working on plans for terrorist training in Sudan when they were picked up.

    Musa Garba Abubakar alias Muhadis Musa Bin Haddad, according to the DSS had approached an unnamed foreign mission for strategic help but turned out to be a gun fabricator.

    He was arrested in Jos on Wednesday.

    Found in his possession, according to DSS spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, were two pistols, 80 rounds of live ammunition and several sensitive documents.

    Opuiyo said: “in a bid to employ propaganda to manipulate the international community against the efforts of the Federal Government, in the on-going war against terror in the North-West region, Musa had approached a foreign mission in Nigeria for logistics and financial support to fight the Boko Haram.

    “However, unknown to the mission, he is actually an unauthorized gun-maker/runner with intent for mischief and communal strife in the North Central region.”

    Musa and two of his associates Umar Khalil Muhammed and Mohammed Yakubu Tahir aka Mallam Yaro allegedly sell guns to criminals in the North-Central geopolitical zone.

    The DSS said:”Muhammed was arrested at Layin Oscar in Jos South LGA, while Tahir was picked up at Mista Ali area, along Jos-Zaria road in Bassa LGA; the duo are accomplices and active marketers of Abubakar and his products to criminal elements in the North-Central region of the country.

    “In strengthening its counter-terrorism strategy, the Service also arrested one Armaya’u Yakubu aka Ali Tekwando, Yakubu Sule and Usman Ibrahim on March 3, 2016, at Hayin Danmani area in Kaduna metropolis.

    “The trio were members of an extremist cell under the coordination of Yakubu, with affiliation to the proscribed extremist group, ANSARU and have been perfecting plans to travel to Sudan, for terrorist training with other radical elements of the group.”

  • Ekiti Assembly alleges ‘abduction’ of four members

    Ekiti Assembly alleges ‘abduction’ of four members

    • Police: We’re unaware of any invasion

    Ekiti House of Assembly yesterday accused operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of invading the complex and making away with four of its members.

    Speaker Kola Oluwawole told reporters that “more than 10 DSS men armed to the teeth” stormed the Assembly complex and shot sporadically into the air causing panic among legislators and staff.

    The Speaker only gave the name of the legislator representing Efon Constituency, Afolabi Akanni, as “one of those abducted” but failed to reveal identities of the other three.

    He claimed that the whereabouts of the other three ‘missing’ legislators remain unknown just as the reasons for the ‘invasion’ and ‘abduction’ were yet to be ascertained.

    But some workers in the Assembly denied knowledge of any invasion by DSS operatives when they closed by 4pm on Friday.

    The Assembly staff, who craved anonymity, said they did not receive any news of the invasion or abduction after they had left office.

    The state police spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi, also denied knowledge of the invasion of the Assembly complex or abduction of any lawmaker.

    Oluwawole, however, described the alleged abduction as a clandestine plot by “the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government to destabilise Ekiti State using the instrumentality of DSS.”

    The Speaker alleged: “Yesterday, the House of Assembly Chamber was invaded by armed men of the DSS.

    “Not minding that various committees of the House were meeting, more than 10 DSS men who were armed to the teeth invaded the Assembly Complex, shooting sporadically into the air, thereby causing panic among members and staff of the House of Assembly, who had to scamper for safety.

    “At the end of the commotion created by this barbaric act, we discovered that four of our members could not be found.

    “It was only this morning that we were able to establish that Hon Afolabi Akanni, representing Efon Constituency was abducted and taken to Abuja.

    “Whereabouts of three other members is still unknown as we speak, and reasons for the invasion and abduction of our members are not known.

    “However, we got it on good authority that the script now being acted by the DSS is part of the APC and President Buhari’s clandestine plot to cripple the Ekiti State Government by arresting and detaining top functionaries of the government.

    “The plot is to harass, intimidate and embarrass top officials of the Ayodele Fayose government because of his critical stance on the Buhari’s government.

    “We are aware that 18 of our members have been pencilled down for harassment and the game plan is to harass them to submission, with a view to coercing them into signing an already prepared notice of impeachment of the governor and his deputy.

    “However, we wish to inform those orchestrating the harassment and intimidation of officials of the Ekiti State Government, especially honourable members of the State House of Assembly that this is 2016 and not 2006.

    “The same tactics used 10 years ago to truncate democracy in Ekiti State will not work this time. We therefore wish to tell the APC agents of political instability that this time around, this House of Assembly will not be available for any ungodly use.”

    He added: “Nigeria is not a banana republic that can be ruled anyhow by anyone and Lawal Daura (from Katsina) and his men, who are playing exactly the same role played between 1984 and 1985 by the National Security Organisation (NSO) under Lawal Rafindadi (from Katsina) should know that this reign of brute force over constitutional democracy will fail.

    “Therefore, the Abuja based agents of destabilisation should get it into their heads that we will never be harassed or intimidated into buying into their sinister agenda.”

  • DSS releases Victor Umeh

    DSS releases Victor Umeh

    A former National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Umeh, who was arrested on Thursday at his Aguluzigbo country home in Anambra State and later whisked to Abuja for questioning on his alleged sponsorship of the pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was released on Friday morning.

    The party’s Deputy Secretary, Chief Jerry Obasi, confirmed Umeh’s release.

    He, however, alleged that the arrest was politically motivated.

     

  • Rail Funds fraud: Reps summon former Minister, DSS, EFCC

    Rail Funds fraud: Reps summon former Minister, DSS, EFCC

    The House of Representatives adhoc Committee on Railway Contract Scam has invited the former Minister of Transport, Isa Bio Ibrahim, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Department of State Services, DSS, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF and 27 contractors allegedly involved in the misappropriation of N1trillion railway contracts.

    Also expected to appear before Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma- headed committee on Thursday to explain their various roles in the utilization of funds made available by the Federal Government to revamp the railway sector, is the acting Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC.

    Ibrahim, as the former Minister, took over from Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke in 2009 and allegedly signed the contract for the procurement of locomotives General Electric (GE) valued at about N12.5billion.

    It was also during his tenure that the recently sacked MD of NRC Mr. Seyi Sijuwade was employed by the presidency.

    “So as you can see the man has a lot to tell the committee because he kick started the whole process in the first place”, a source close to the committee said.

    While the DSS was invited to explain to its recommendation to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation regarding the poor management of the rail contracts between 2010-2014, the EFCC will give the committee the full details of its findings on the rail contract scam. .

    Also, the OSGF is to tell the lawmakers the action it took on the investigative report submitted to it by the DSS.

    “As for the acting MD of NRC, government is a continuum and he has to give account of what he knows under oath and produce all the contractors. The contractors too must tell the committee all they have done with convincing evidence of the state of the contracts they executed,” the source added.

    Chairman of the adhoc committee, Hon. Ehiozuwa  Agbonnayinma, when contacted confirmed that the stakeholders have been invited to appear before the committee.

    According to him, the presence of the contractors is necessary as earlier attempts to reach the contractors before now proved abortive.

    “I will always emphasise the fact that we are not out to witch hunt anybody provided your hands are not greased with locomotive engine oil laced with fraud.

    “But once we unearth any ugly development no matter how highly placed the individual is we must expose him,” he said.

  • N4bn false bribe allegation against PDP govs, DSS boss lands three in trouble

    N4bn false bribe allegation against PDP govs, DSS boss lands three in trouble

    Telephone conversations and interpersonal discussions imputing corruption by the Director General of the  Department of State Security Services (DSS) and Supreme Court justices have landed three men in trouble with  the security agency.

    Usman Ahmed Dan-Mallam, Nura Shehu Lawal Giwa (alias Marafan Zazzau) and Hussaini Monguno (alias Colonel) were arrested on February 17 for allegedly using blackmail to extort money from important personalities.

    Spokesman for the DSS, Mr Abdullahi  Garba told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the suspects “had perfected plans to blackmail the Director-General of DSS, solely based on falsehood. The group claimed that the DGSS collected the sum of N4 billion from the PDP governors of Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Abia and Taraba States to influence the judgement of the Supreme Court in their favour, in the recently decided electoral cases by the court.

    “They were also to misinform the President and, in fact, the Nigerian public that the DGSS has acquired choice properties in Maitama and Asokoro areas of Abuja; the overall objective was to scare the DGSS and put him under pressure, just for the group to extort money from him to serve their pecuniary interest.

    “To state the obvious truth, the DGSS couldn’t have approached the justices to accomplish the said feat attributed to him because his office doesn’t work in that manner; the DG couldn’t have helped the same PDP governors who daily accuse him, even in the press, of not supporting them.”

    The three paraded suspects claimed innocence.

    The DSS accused Hussaini Monguno of referring to himself as ‘Colonel’, and  a security expert who had served  General Ibrahim Babangida and the late General Sani Abacha on special assignments.

    He said that Nura Giwa, who claims to hold the title of Marafan in Zazzau Emirate, initiated the plot aimed at extorting money.

    Garba said:“Dan-Mallam, who hails from Matazu LGA of Katsina State, admitted, like the other two members of his group, to the crime but claimed that the smear campaign was initiated by Giwa who came up with the various allegations.

    “He also revealed that he co-opted Monguno into their plans, based on his (Monguno’s) self-confessed expertise in national security as well as alleged connection with high-profile personalities including Mr. President.”

    Hussaini, defending himself, said:“I have never extorted from any individual and never claimed to be a Colonel but Dan-Mallam has been a friend for ten years; I returned from Saudi Arabia on Monday and he (Dan-Mallam) called me on telephone on Wednesday to express those allegations about the DG.

    “The SSS should go over our telephone conversation to note whatever we discussed; I am a businessman and politician.”

    For his part  Dan-Mallam said:  “Shehu Giwa visited my house because I was sick; he told me that there were rumours that they (PDP governors) gave DG N4 billion” while Giwa said: “I have been here for eight days but I don’t know anything about this matter”.

  • Court restrains EFCC, DSS from arresting PDP Secretary

    Court restrains EFCC, DSS from arresting PDP Secretary

    Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja has temporarily restrained the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others from arresting Peoples Democratic Party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.

    Also affected by the judge’s order for the maintenance of status quo are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) , the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase; and the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The judge, upon a request lawyer to Oladipo, Ajibola Oluyede, directed parties in the fundamental right enforcement application by the PDP National Secretary to maintain status quo by sustaining the current situation until the determination of the case.

    Justice Tsoho said the order was intended “to allay the fear being expressed by the applicant.”

    He added that the respondents needed not to comply with his earlier order made ex-parte, requiring them to show cause why a restraining order earlier sought ex-part by the applicant should not be granted.

    He directed the respondent to proceed to respond to the substantive application and adjourned to March 4 for hearing.

    Oladipo had filed the suit on February 8 on the ground that he had received a text message on his mobile telephone from somebody, who claimed to be an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), attached to the Asset Tracing and Recovery Unit.

    H added that the author of the message asked him to call a certain phone number contained in the message in order to reach somebody else who would give the date and time  he was to report at the commission’s office in Abuja for an “interaction”.

    Oladipo alleged that he was being which-hunted, harassed and intimidated on the basis of funds which he received from members of the PDP “without guilty knowledge”.

    He is seeking among others, a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from “the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and persecution of the applicant or threats by the respondents ostensibly on the basis of funds received by the applicant without guilty knowledge from members of his political party”.

    Oladipo wants the court to declare any plan to arrest, investigate or “fabricate evidence” against him as “constituting prosecutorial misconduct, malicious process, and misfeasance in public office by the respondents”.

    The applicant also wants the court to declare that the said acts “infringe unjustifiably and illegally upon the liberty, to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to freedom of expression, association and movement”.

    He also wants the court to declare that “the pursuit of any excuse whatsoever and fabrication of evidence to incarcerate or justify the incarceration of the applicant in order to decimate and disorganize the Peoples Democratic Party.”

    He said his rights allegedly being threatened were “guaranteed and protected under sections 33, 34. 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution as well as Articles 2,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12  and 13 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    Thursday, the AGF, EFCC and IGP were not represented by any lawyer.

    Lawyers to the ICPC and the DSS denied any knowledge of plan to investigate or arrest the PDP national officer.

    They also said they had not been served with all the necessary processes of the suit filed by the plaintiff.

    The judge directed the plaintiff’s lawyer to serve all the respondents and adjourned till March 4 for hearing.