The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DSS

  • Arms scam: Absence of Dasuki’s lawyer stalls proceedings

    Arms scam: Absence of Dasuki’s lawyer stalls proceedings

    Proceedings were stalled Thursday in the N13.5billion arms scam involving a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and five others before a High court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja.

    Dasuki is being tried with a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Babakusa and two  companies – Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited  – on a 19-count charge  bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust.

    At the mention of the case Thursday, prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that lawyer to Dasuki, Ahmed Raji (SAN) was absent and had written him, seeking the adjournment of proceedings to Friday.

    Jacobs said: ‘‘Counsel to the first defendant wrote a letter to me, saying that he won’t attend today’s proceedings on the grounds that he will be appearing before an election petition tribunal in Lokoja, Kogi State.”

    Jacobs told the court why Dasuki was equally absent in court.

    He said ‘‘when I inquired about the first defendant, I was told he is not in the custody of the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission). On further enquiry, I was told that he is with the Department of State Services (DSS). We have, however, made moves to ensure that he is produced in court this morning. My Lord, they are bringing him to court this morning.’’

    Responding, lawyers to the other defendants in the case insisted that Dasuki must be produced before further proceedings could be conducted in the case. The lawyers, including Solomon Umoh (SAN) were of the view that since it was a criminal trial, the presence of all the defendants was necessary.

    Trial judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf later suspended proceedings for about an hour to enable the prosecution fetch Dasuki.

    When Dasuki was later brought in around 11.00am by DSS operatives, Jacobs urged the court to adjourn to the next day in view of the request of the ex-NSA.

    Justice Baba-Yusuf later adjourned to today when the other defence lawyers did not object to Jacobs’ request.

     

  • Court remands Nnamdi Kanu in prison

    Court remands Nnamdi Kanu in prison

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, be remanded in Kuje prison pending his trial for treason.

    The presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho, gave the order after listening to applications filed by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS) and Kanu on the matter.

    Kanu’s counsel, Chuks  Muoma (SAN), had argued that the accused person be remanded in prison custody away from the DSS cell.

    He said his client had been kept incommunicado for the three months he stayed in the DSS custody.

    He asked the court to send the accused person to prison so that his family could have access to him.

    The DSS counsel, Mohammed Diri, however, prayed the court to keep Kanu in the agency custody for security reasons.

    The judge later ruled that the defendant be kept in Kuje prison.

  • Families of missing DSS agents seek probe

    Four months after seven Department of State Service (DSS) agents went missing in Ikorodu, Lagos State, their families have called for a presidential investigation into the matter.

    They also decried the agency’s silence on the plight of its agents.

    The distraught families urged President Muhammadu Buhari to unravel the whereabouts of the agents, who were said to have been abducted by suspected vandals.

    They appealed to the President to compel the DSS to pay the salaries and other entitlements of the missing operatives to their jobless wives, hungry children and take full financial responsibility of their families.

    The sister to one of the abducted DSS agents, Ms Mercy Obiorah, said: “Let Nigerians ask why the DSS should keep silent on the sudden disappearance of their gallant officers who were on a national assignment and refuse to even ask their families how they have been faring!

    “Reason and responsibility demand that the DSS should cater for the temporary financial needs of the families until they are back.”

    Those copied in the letter, titled: “A plea for thorough investigation into the case of seven missing DSS operatives with Lagos Command,” are: the Senate, the Inspector-General of the Police (IGP) Solomon Arase and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    Ms Obiorah condemned the silence of the DSS since the incident happened, despite efforts by her family to ascertain the whereabouts of her brother.

    The woman, who wrote from Texas, the United States of America (U.S.A), described the silence of the DSS as a show of aggressive impunity and corrosive erosion of professionalism, which must be rejected by well-meaning Nigerians.

    She urged President to compel the DSS to tell Nigerians whether the missing operatives were dead or alive; investigate their disappearance and explain their mission at Arepo or Ishawo.

    Ms Obiorah said: “Rumours must be debunked for the sake of public good. A public pronouncement by the DSS on this matter is long overdue.

    “I strongly reject this aggressive and inhuman tendency from the DSS. These missing guys are human beings with wives and children; yet, they are being treated like animals. This is a show of aggressive impunity and corrosive erosion of professionalism that must be rejected by well-meaning Nigerians.

    “I need not dramatise my unimaginable mental burden, nor that of my family, that after four months, the DSS Office cannot inform us on the whereabouts of my brother who, along with his six colleagues, were sent to work from their Lagos command on September 15, 2015.

    “Incessant visits by my family back in Nigeria to the Office of the DSS in Lagos since September 15 have consistently left everyone with a most traumatic and painful experience. The Lagos Director, Mr Ajanaku, kept telling them that …my brother and his colleagues were alive and hidden somewhere in the creeks.

    “This information, quite unprofessional as it has been, is becoming tellingly unsavoury, objectionable and most devastating to the entire family members, especially with the passing days.

    “The DSS cannot permanently keep silent on a serious matter of national concern as this. In the U.S, when such incidents happen, it takes the Sheriff a few hours to go on air and inform the citizens. It is the right of citizens to get informed.

    “My missing brother’s wife confirmed that her husband told her that they were going for the rescue of a kidnapped woman in Ikorodu, contrary to ubiquitous reports that they were going to hunt down pipeline vandals or going for the funeral of their fallen colleague. This matter needs to be investigated.

    “My family back home in Nigeria went to the DSS Office in Lagos many times where my brother’s director assured them that they went to work and were kidnapped and that the DSS was negotiating for their release. At other times, the director said the military and the Navy had taken over the matter.

    “The question is: How could the military and Navy take over the investigation of a kidnap case of highly placed senior officers of DSS when they (the DSS) are adept at cracking high profile kidnap cases? We, and other Nigerians, smell a rat somewhere.”

  • DSS alerts Nigerians to new fraud tricks

    DSS alerts Nigerians to new fraud tricks

    THE Director of Directorate of State Services (DSS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abubakar Bubuche, has warned residents on the activities of criminal syndicates using computer animation to manipulate pictures with the aim of  extorting money from their victims.

    Bubuche, who gave the warning in Abuja yesterday, said the fraudsters would then send such pictures to their targets, threatening to post them on the Facebook as well as other social media platforms, if they refused to part with certain huge amount of money.

    His words: “This is to inform the general public about the activities of a criminal syndicates’ style of operation include, among others, the use of computer animation to strip their victims and put their nude pictures on Facebook and other social media platforms.

    “The gang calls up their potential victims and orders them to pay certain amount of money to a given account numbers or have their personal pictures edited and posted nude on the internet.”

    He said the Service received various complaints, which prompted its agents to swing into action, leading to the arrest of two people in connection with the internet fraud.

    The suspects – Shettima Baba Shehu (35 years) and Abdullahi Hassan (22 years) – were arrested in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by operatives from the FCT Command.

    “The public may wish to note that this syndicate has diverse membership with various professional skills, especially in ICT. Citizens and FCT residents alike are advised to be wary of fraudsters and promptly report similar cases and suspected persons to the security agencies,” the FCT DSS Director said.

  • Kogi: DSS detains, releases Faleke, Audu’s son

    Kogi: DSS detains, releases Faleke, Audu’s son

    The Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday quizzed Hon. James Faleke, the running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu in the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State.

    Also quizzed by the DSS at its Abuja Headquarters was Audu’s eldest son, Mohammed.

    They were both released afterward.

    Faleke confirmed the meeting last night but said it was ‘a normal invitation’ that lasted under one hour.

    Faleke said the invitation had nothing to do with the case he instituted over the decision of this party, All Progressives Congress (APC) to bypass him and pick Alhaji Yahaya Bello as candidate in the rerun election.

    A source said the DSS invitation might not be unconnected with statements credited to Faleke that he would be unavailable for swearing-in as deputy to Bello on January 27.

    He says he is the rightful person to step into Audu’s shoes following the latter’s death while on the verge of being declared winner of the November election.

    News of the DSS invitation of Faleke and Mohammed Audu yesterday had sparked fresh tension in the state as residents were unsure of the reason for the security agency’s action.

  • Faleke, Audu’s son invited by DSS

    Faleke, Audu’s son invited by DSS

    It has been confirmed that the Kogi State deputy governor-elect, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was invited by the Department of State Security, Abuja, for yet undisclosed reasons.

    An aide to Faleke confirmed to our correspondent that Faleke, along with Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, eldest son of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, reported at the DSS headquarters in Abuja early Saturday morning.

    Speaking under the condition of anonymity, the aide said Faleke’s invitation by the DSS might not be unconnected with statements credited to him that he will be unavailable for swearing-in as deputy governor of Kogi State on January 27.

    The Director, Media and Publicity of Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisation, Hon Duro Meseko who also confirmed the invitation and detention said he was surprised when Faleke and Audu were still being kept in an isolated office till yesterday evening.

    His words: “I am surprised my principal and the eldest son of our political leader, Mohammed, are still being kept as I speak with you which is 4pm. What could be responsible for this ill treatment by the DSS? Or could they be acting the intimidation script? Trying to armtwist them into abandoning the sacred mandate freely given to the Audu/Faleke team by the generality of Kogi people?

    “Let me make it abundantly clear that our mandate is sacred and no amount of of technical detention, intimidation and harassment would shake our resolve to get justice through the judiciary.”

    Pressed further on whether the presidency had any connection with their arrest, Meseko said, “I refuse to believe that the presidency has hands in the arrest, but we may not rule out the fact that the powers that be must have wielded their influence in the arrest, but we are not pertubed over the development, because we believe that God will ultimately vindicate us”.

    Faleke had vowed to be deputy to the Kogi governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, insisting that he remains the rightful person to have assumed the position, following the demise of Abubakar Audu, at the verge of being declared winner of the November 21, 2015 governorship election in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was to later declare the election inconclusive, paving way for the emergence of Bello, who was first runner-up at the APC governorship primary.

    Faleke’s petition on the matter is presently before the Kogi State governorship election petition tribunal.

  • DSS, soldiers raid ex-Abia lawmaker’s home

    DSS, soldiers raid ex-Abia lawmaker’s home

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    • Ubani accuses APGA of sponsoring raid

    Gunmen believed to be operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Army yesterday invaded the Opobo road residence of a former federal lawmaker from Abia State, Eziuche Ubani.

    The security agents, it was gathered, were in search of arms he allegedly kept in his house.

    The search, according to Ubani, lasted from 1a.m till about 6a.m. However, no incriminating evidence was found.

    But Ubani is accusing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of sponsoring the unlawful invasion.

    “At about 1a.m, I woke up to a noise and upon checking for the source, I saw that my house had been surrounded by armed people in both mufti and military uniforms. I was with a friend, Prince. Aware of the history of violence in Aba, we didn’t open the door and so they decided to force it open but when they couldn’t, they went to the boy’s quarter and seized my driver. He was beaten to give information about my whereabouts but he refused.

    “It was my friend who noticed their uniform when he went out and when they came in, they showed me a search warrant which originated from Umuahia.

    “They said there was a petition of arms storing and training of young men to assassinate people in Aba, particularly those belonging to APGA, against me. I told them to get on with the search because I know I am innocent.

    “The raid lasted until 6a.m and during the search, they kept calling their boss that they couldn’t find anything. Before they finally left, they made note to say they found nothing incriminating and took nothing away.

    “I know that this has to do with the inordinate ambition of Alex Otti to rule Abia by hook or crook. On Sunday, I was going to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s house when my phone rang. It was Ahamdi Nweke who contested the Abia Central Senatorial seat against former governor Orji. He said he learnt I held two meetings to plan his death, the last being Saturday.

    “Later someone showed me a petition on facebook, sent to the Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General (IGP); it was written by Ahamdi Nweke and claiming I was plotting to kill him.

    “I did not regard the matter, not until this morning when the security agencies stormed my home. I have inquired and learnt they acted without the consent of the Commissioner of Police, the Brigade (14 Brigade, Ohafia) Commander in-charge of this area.

    “So, who are those people? The only time the DSS and Army will go to your house is when you have breached national security bordering on treason. I want to know what the Chief of Army Staff and their sponsors had in mind for sending them to invade my privacy in the name of searching for arms.”

    When contacted, Ahamdi Nweke said he submitted his petition to the Commissioner of Police, Joshiak Habila, yesterday, after the search, stressing that the DSS and soldiers may have acted on intelligence and not his petition.

    Police spokesman Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed the raid and said the Ogbor hill police station, after receiving a distress call mobilised its personnel to the ex-lawmaker’s house.

    Government condemns raid

    The government of Abia State has condemned the invasion of Eziuche Ubani’s home, describing it as unwarranted and unacceptable.

    It requested an unreserved apology from the security agencies involved, because according to it, government was embarrassed by the action.

    Addressing reporters at Ubani’s residence, Commissioner for Information Bonnie Iwuoha said the government demands an explanation for the invasion.

    He called on sponsors of disturbances to stop forth with as government will not condone violence in any guise, stressing that security agencies are on alert to avoid such.

  • How Biafra Radio chief Kanu was arrested, by DSS

    How Biafra Radio chief Kanu was arrested, by DSS

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has given details of how its men apprehended the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    The DSS said but for the tenacity of its men, Kanu, who lodged in a Lagos hotel under a fictitious name, would have escaped arrest.

    It explained how arms and ammunition were recovered at the Ubulusiuzor, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State home of one of Kanu’s associates, Benjamin Madubugwu.

    The information was contained in some documents filed with a fresh six-count charge against Kanu, Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

    A DSS operative, Temisan John, who led the team that arrested Kanu on October 14, said Kanu was apprehended in the company of a woman at the Golden Tulip Essential Lagos Airport Hotel located at 42/44, Murtala Mohammed International Aiprot Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

    “On arrival at the hotel, the staff denied having Kanu there or having any knowledge of him, even when showed his photograph. The guest manifest, for about five days, was also printed and the name was not found on any.

    “However, relying on accurate intelligence, the team decided to conduct a physical search on all the rooms and Kanu was arrested in Room 303 while hibernating with a young girl, Maryam Ibezimakor, with all his broadcasting and communication gadgets set for use.

    “It was then discovered that Kanu checked in under the name Nwanekaenyi Ezebuiro. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the command headquarters.”

    Another DSS operative, Mohammed Ahmed, who led the search of Madubugwu’s house, said items recovered in the house included “two pump-action guns loaded with ammunition, one Emerald pump-action gun with serial number: TS870-113-0046 and one Delta Magnum pump-action gun with serial number 501.”

    Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi (identified as a Field Maintenance Engineer with MTN Nigeria), were to be arraigned on December 23, but Kanu stalled the proceedings when he told the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, that he doubted his ability to give a fair trial.

    This prompted Justice Mohammed to withdraw from the case and direct that the case file be returned to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.

  • How DSS arrested Biafra’s Kanu

    How DSS arrested Biafra’s Kanu

    The Department of State Services has given details of how its men apprehended the leader of a group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and operator of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    The DSS said, but for the tenacity of its men, Kanu who, it said, lodged in a hotel in Lagos using fictitious name, would have escaped arrest.

    It also explained how arms and ammunition were recovered in the home of one of Kanu’s associates – Benjamin Madubugwu – at Ubulusiuzor town, in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State.

    The information are contained in a bundle of court documents filed along with a fresh six-count charge recently filed against Kanu, Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

    A DSS operative, Temisan John, who led a team that arrested Kanu on October 14, 2015 at the Golden Tulip Essential Lagos Airport Hotel in Lagos said Kanu was apprehended in the company of a woman.

    ” On arrival at the hotel, the staff denied having Kanu in the hotel or having any knowledge of him even when shown his photograph. The hotel’s guest manifest for about five days were also printed and the name was not found on any.

    “However, relying on accurate intelligence, the team decided to conduct a physical search on all the hotel rooms, leading to the arrest of Kanu in Room 303, where he was caught hibernating with a young girl named Maryam Ibezimakor, with all his broadcasting and communication gadgets set for use.

    “It was then discovered that Kanu checked in under the name Nwanekaenyi Ezebuiro. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the command headquarters.”

    Another DSS operative, who led the search of Madubugwu’s house, Mohammed Ahmed, said items recovered in the house located at Ubulusiuzor, Ihiala LG, Anambra State included “two pump action guns loaded with ammunition.”

    He described them as ” one Emerald Pump Action gun, serial number: TS870-113-0046″ and “one Delta Magnum Pump Action gun s/no: 501.”

    Kanu,  Madubugwu and Nwawuisi (identified as a Field Maintenance Engineer with MTN Nigeria Limited were to be arraigned on December 23, but Kanu stalled the proceedings when he told Justice Ahmed Mohammed, before who they were to be arraigned, that he doubted the judge’s ability to ensure fair trial in the case, prompting Justice Mohammed to withdraw from the case.

    The judge, who was not averse to Kanu’s position, later directed the return of the case file to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.

  • EFCC, DSS to join prosecution of pipeline vandals

    EFCC, DSS to join prosecution of pipeline vandals

    The Managing Director Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, said yesterday that the Federal Government will involve some security agencies in the prosecution of pipeline vandals.

    Nnamadi-Ogbue stated this during a visit to Mosinmi Depot and Ajebo pipeline in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun.

    She listed the security agencies to be involved as the Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Ogbue said that the involvement of these agencies would facilitate the prosecution of the vandals at the courts of competent jurisdiction.

    “We are looking at all ramifications on how to bring these criminals to book; they have to be treated as criminals and pipeline products thieves.

    “The pipelines are the most efficient way of moving products and then for the first time in a very long time we are pushing products all the way to Ibadan.

    “We intend to move to Ilorin, reduce bridging from Lagos area so that people can go and pick up their products in Ibadan and Ilorin,” Ogbue said.

    She expressed optimism that partnership with EFCC, DSS, Police and host communities would yield positive results and the culprits would soon face the full wrath of the law.

    Ogbue said that federal government would start deploying trackers on trucks carrying fuel from its depots to filling stations across the country to check diversion of the product.

    The PPMC boss explained that with the trackers government would be able to monitor the movement of trucks vis- a-vis their destinations.

    Ogbue lamented that fuel diversion was a serious problem with undesirable consequences on the economy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the federal government operates 22 depots nationwide, including Atlas Cove, which is located in Lagos