The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, was on Monday charged to court by the Department of State Services (DSS).
A statement on Monday by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, said Dasuki was charged to court based on evidence relating to possession of fire arms without license.
According to the statement, the offence is punishable under Section 27(i) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28LFN 2004.
“This is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law, no matter how highly placed in the society.
“Accordingly, the general public will be duly informed as the matter progresses”, the statement added.
The DSS had, on July 16, 2015, carried out a search operation on properties belonging to Dasuki in Abuja and Sokoto.
The search operation followed what the DSS described as credible intelligence linking the ex NSA him to acts capable of undermining national security.
“The search led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted”, the DSS said.
Tag: DSS
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DSS charges Dasuki to court
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DSS begins probe of military contracts, arms deal
Contractors detained, released
The Department of State Security Service (DSS) has started probing contracts awarded by the military and other security agencies.
The probe includes arms procurement in the past few years.
It was also learnt that some contractors were detained by the military for about 24 to 48 hours for quizzing.
The names of the contractors were however kept under wraps as at the time of filing this report.
But the affected contractors were released after making relevant documents available to the security agency.
According to investigation by our correspondent, the ongoing findings border on four pegs including:
*alleged extra-budgetary spending on military hardware and the sources of funding;
*what became of the $1billion approved for arms purchase by the National Assembly;
*the sources of the $15million seized by South Africa
*why the military budget had declined in the last five years or whether or not the military budget had been diverted to other use; and
*likely cases of mismanagement.
It was gathered that the presidency was disturbed that some of the immediate past Service Chiefs had complained of lack of equipment contrary to the records available to the government.
Although the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Sambo Dasuki, had clarified that enough modern arms and ammunition, the government has set out to find out how much was spent on arms, the actual Defence budget, what was released and spent.
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The DSS has launched a discreet probe into award of contracts, procurement and extra-budgetary votes by the military and security agencies in the past five years.
“Some contractors were detained and grilled for about 24 to 36 hours before they were released to their lawyers. Some of the contractors will still be re-invited as the probe progresses.
“Where contracts were duly awarded, the DSS only screened the process and confirmed execution. Some procurements were also verified.
“The job is however easier in some cases because one of the present Service Chiefs was in charge of procurement in his service.”
One of the affected contractors confirmed invitation by DSS to our correspondent.
The contractor said: “I was asked to present my contract papers, due process approval and the execution. They were civil because after presenting all the details, I was left off the hook after 24 hours.
“This is why it is not good to cut corners in any business one is doing.”
It was however learnt that the DSS will look find out whether or not the $1billion external loan sought by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was approved.
The 7th Senate had on September 25 approved President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to borrow a $1bn external loan to buy arms and hardware fight insurgency in the country.
The source added: “The ongoing investigation will help to find out if the loan was fully accessed or not, what it was spent on and what gaps to be filled.
“It is not a witch-hunt but if you go through the report of the Transition Committee of Jonathan, there were so many gaps to fill.
“There were allegations of underfunding, short-changing of military budget, extra-budgetary spending, and unnecessary debts.
“We also got reports that some military equipment ordered from abroad are still being expected.
“There is need to reconcile all these records. If there are infractions, those concerned will be prosecuted.
“In all, the report of the Ministry of Defence was not at par with the votes spent on the arms in the Armed Forces and security agencies.
In a report to the Federal Government Transition Committee, headed by ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Ministry of Defence said the defence budget has declined under the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Out of N445.309billion voted for the ministry in five years, about N273.831billion was actually released.
The withheld amount was about N171.478billion.
Also, the ministry had an outstanding liability of N26,830,532,161.24 including N2,618,509,462.05 and $20,962.96 incurred on capital and overhead expenditures and excess commitment of N24,212,022,699.19 on Peace Support operations
The breakdown of the report shows that the Federal Government budgeted N445.309billion for the Ministry of Defence between 2011 and 2015 as follows N213.122billion (capital) and overhead (N232.187billion).
Out of the N213.122billion capital votes, only N110.916 billion was released.
Concerning the recurrent budget, out of N232.187billion, about N162.915billion was released
The report said in part: “There has been consistent decline in both Capital and Overhead allocations to the Defence Sector in the past five years (2011-2015) as shown in the table below. In spite of the limited funds the responsibilities of both the Ministry and its agencies are increasing on a daily basis. Mostly with the level of insecurity arising from insurgency in the North-East, Niger Delta and other flash points in the country.
“Follow the inadequacy of regular funding for Peace Support Operations (PSOs), N35,000,000,000.00 (thirty five billion naira only) Bond was raised at 9.75% per annum in 2008 to equip Nigerian troops engaged in various UN missions.
“The equipment procured were delivered at the Nigerian Arm Ordinance Depot, Lagos for onward deployment to mission areas under the supervision of the Defence Headquarters. However, it should be noted that Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) attracts reimbursements from the United Nations Peace keeping which account is domiciled with CBN UN Account General of the Federation and utilized for the repayment of the Bond. So far, the sum of N27.3 billion has been repaid for the loan taken.
“However, following a request by the ministry to Mr. President for the transfer of control/management of the Armed Forces Peace Keeping reimbursement account from Nigeria Permanent Mission in the UN to the Defence Section in New York from where the funds will be remitted into the MOD account, the request was graciously approved and it is expected that with the transfer, funds would be easily accessed and utilized more judiciously for the maintenance and upgrade of the equipment.
“The repayment schedule due to non-regular remittance of funds from the Defence Section in New York to the ministry, which therefore affected the loan payment which hitherto was to be fully paid in June, 2015 but will now be paid on a quarterly sum of N1,284,122,196.23 with effect from 30th June, 2015 to 30th September, 2017
“The Ministry has an outstanding liability of N26, 830,532,161.24 and $20,962.96. This is made up of N2,618,509,462.05 and $20,962.96 incurred on capital and overhead expenditures and excess commitment of N24,212,022,699.19 on Peace Support operations (i.e. N11,370,800,729.85 for UNAMID and N1,246,102,623.11 for Guinea Bissau) and DMO debt of N12,841,221,969.34.”
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Senate probes alleged DSS interference in Election Tribunals
•Daura to appear before panel today
Investigation into the alleged interference in the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja by the Department of State Services (DSS) has commenced in the Senate.
The upper chamber has invited the Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, to explain the allegation.
Daura is billed to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, which has been mandated to conduct the investigation today.
The probe is said to be sequel to a petition by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the Senate on the allegation.
The petition signed by 31 members of the House was referred to the Ethics and Public Petitions Committee last week.
The petitioners claimed, among others, that the DSS had arrested some officials of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and members of the Election Petition Tribunal and subjected them to serious intimidation, harassment and coercion to compromise the independence of the tribunal and pervert justice.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, (PDP, Imo East Senatorial District) at the commencement of sitting yesterday warned those involved in the matter against delay.
Anyanwu said members would demand prompt response to invitations and questions during the probe.
The chairman said the committee would pay serious attention to allegations of abuse of office against the DSS.
He, however, noted that the petitioners should provide specific details to assist the committee to conduct a thorough investigation.
Anyanwu said, “The issue of independence of the judiciary is a very serious pillar in the dispensation of justice.
“That is why the committee takes the allegation of intimidation of Tribunal members’ very seriously because if the judiciary is intimidated, then the independence is compromised.
“So we want all details about this allegation supplied to the committee without delay.”
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, who led other members to the committee, defended the petition.
Ibani noted that INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan and some other senior officials of the commission were also arrested and detained by the DSS in Abuja.
He said: “We make bold to say that they lack the power or the authority to invite any judicial officer serving in the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal for questioning concerning their handling of election petitions pending before them based on some purported petitions from interested parties.”
“While we commend the stance and efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to instill discipline, strengthen institutions of State and deepen democratic values where all Nigerians will have equal opportunities, we are appalled by their present clandestine and surreptitious moves aimed at derailing an efficient, transparent and unbiased justice delivery system and thereby bringing the judiciary into disrepute, public ridicule and odium.”
Ibani added that “embarking on this condemnable mission, the DSS purports to be acting on some pre-arranged petitions from persons who are directly interested in the outcome of the various election Petitions from Rivers State.”
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We’ll secure Abuja, says DSS
Department of State Service (DSS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Bello Bakori has vowed to ensure that Abuja is free from security breaches.
Bakori promised that the DSS would continue to provide intelligence to assist the FCT Administration deliver good governance to the people.
He spoke during a courtesy visit to the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu.
In a statement sent by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Muhammad Sule, Bakori was quoted as saying, “My office would continue to provide quality intelligence to assist the FCT Administration deliver good governance to the residents.
“We will also continue to strive for the Federal Capital Territory to be free from any security breaches by providing the necessary intelligence”.
Mr. Chukwu called on synergy between all security agencies operating in the FCTý, to ensure that Abuja is free from all criminal activities.
He said that the call has become necessary because of the ever influx of people into the Territory, due to security challenges in some parts of the country, thereby making the security situation in the FCT more challenging.
Engr Chukwu added that, “We want continued peace and stability in the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory because Abuja is hosting Mr. President, members of the diplomatic community as well as serving as the seat of government, which calls for security agencies to be more proactive in service delivery.
“This is a period of reflection and change, I will like to also call on the security agencies in the Territory to continue to put in their best to enable Abuja remain a pacesetter because it’s no longer business as usual.
“I will like to enjoin all the heads of the security and anti corruption agencies in FCT to bridge the gap between the staff of the FCT Administration and their respective organisations, since we are all working for the government and for the common good of the people”.
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PDP, DSS and election matters
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a syndicated publication in several newspapers and prime-time news-reports in the electronic media, a group known as the Public Interest Lawyers League, accused the Department of State Security (DSS) of intimidating, coercing and detaining vital witnesses of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Abuja.
Earlier, the same group of lawyers had accused the DSS of harassing the Akwa-Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, Austin Okojie so that he will acquiesce in the execution of an alleged plot to deny the PDP the governorship seat in the state. Of course, not to be left out in this DSS-bashing game is a group of senators and members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State under the auspices of Rivers State Caucus, National Assembly, led by Senator George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers South-East Senatorial District), who claim that the secret service is being used to arm-twist the hands of the electoral tribunal hearing the petition against Governor Nyesom Wike.
A single thread that runs through their protests is the unsubstantiated claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has elicited the services of the DSS as a manipulative and arm-twisting tool to reclaim the governorship seats from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states.
In a press statement signed by Abdul Mahmud and Mathew Jibril, President and Executive Director respectively, the Public Interest Lawyers criticized the DSS over what it described as “certain hideous occurrences, outside of the courtroom, that portend clear and present danger to the ends of justice in the election dispute”.
Similarly, the group claims that the allegations against Okojie “were inappropriate and the APC had no right to conclude that the man’s actions (Okojie) were criminal without any proven evidence”. Given these protestations, the pertinent question remains: Are these protests being driven by political considerations or genuine concerns for the promotion of justice in election matters?
It would appear that the protestations from these groups with regard to the activities of the DSS in election matters border not only on ignorance but on the need to ensure that INEC officials and PDP members accused of the promotion or commission of violent crimes during the governorship elections in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers States are not tried and punished.
These critics of DSS activities do not seem to appreciate the fact that the same activities by INEC officials could lead to two different outcomes – the one, electoral; and the other, criminal. For instance, the non-release of election result sheets by a resident electoral commissioner to the polling centres and booths as required by the electoral law could lead to the distorted outcome of the result of an election, as well as the maiming and killing of voters arising from the violent disruption of election proceedings. In this circumstance, are the police or the DSS expected to keep hands at akimbo and allow injustice to prevail?
Now, it must be mischievously absurd to suggest that the investigation of a resident electoral commissioner whose activities wittingly or unwittingly led to the death of innocent voters on Election Day is tantamount to the police or the DSS interfering in an electoral matter before an election tribunal or the courts.
The truth of the matter is that while election tribunals and the courts are meant to redress distorted election results arising from the manipulation of an election process – rigging, the police and the DSS are required by law to investigate, arrest and prosecute all those, including INEC officials, whose actions engendered crises and violent crimes in the electoral process.
And there is no law that I know in this country or elsewhere in the world which says that election tribunals and security agencies cannot carry out their different constitutional responsibilities in election matters, simultaneously.
From the benefit of the appraisals just made above regarding the different outcomes – electoral and criminal – that could manifest, for instance, from the single action of a resident electoral commissioner, it becomes clear that almost all the groups or interests using the media to demonize the DSS and its operatives over the election matters in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states are simply crying wolf where there is none.
In the light of what we know about the killings on the day of the governorship election in Akwa-Ibom State allegedly arising from the actions or inactions of the resident electoral commissioner, what do we make of the ranting of the Public Interest Lawyers League that the DSS has been unduly harassing Okojie because of “the interest of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Akwa-Ibom’s natural resources”?
Similarly, in the light of the reported widespread violent crimes and killings that graced the Rivers State governorship election, can any rational mind take seriously the moronic insinuations by the Rivers State Caucus, National Assembly, led by Senator Sekibo that “they have witnessed the modus operandi of the DSS and have come to the conclusion that what’s happening can be best described as dictatorship in a democratic regime”?
No matter what anybody might like to say to the contrary, the Public Interest Lawyers League and the Rivers State Caucus, National Assembly, among others, are just the public arrow-head of the hierarchy of the corrupt and discredited past PDP henchmen in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states.
Their strategy is to cry foul and sound alarmist in order to embarrass the Buhari Presidency in the hope of getting it to interfere and obstruct the DSS from carrying out its constitutional duty to Nigeria regarding the atrocities that were committed by INEC officials, – high and low – in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states during the 2015 general elections that led to the death of innocent voters.
The members of these groups are no democrats interested in protecting the peoples’ mandate. They are simply the fronts for PDP politicians in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states interested only in protecting their anticipated loot and underserved privileges they hope to reap and enjoy over the next four years if the PDP governments of Emmanuel Udom and Nyesom Wike are given the oxygen of life by the election tribunals.
Nigerians must, therefore, resist these characters masquerading as public do-gooders for the peoples of Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states by extending their undiluted support to the DSS in its crackdown and investigation of Okojie and Mrs. Gesila Khan, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, with regard to their activities during the 2015 general elections that reportedly led to the death of innocent voters.
After all, there is nothing special about INEC officials to warrant their being treated with kid gloves or as persons above the laws of Nigeria. The DSS must, therefore, continue its investigation of the activities of INEC officials in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states, whether or not they are witnesses in the petitions filed at the election tribunals.
There is no known law in Nigeria, including the Electoral Act that precludes the DSS from doing its work because suspects in the cases its operatives are handling are witnesses in matters before election tribunals and the courts.
- Nkemjika, is Co-author of “Oil Exploration in Northern Nigeria: Problems and Prospects”.
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DSS bursts notorious kidnap syndicates, arrests suspects
The Department of State Services (DSS) has burst a number of kidnap syndicates and arrested some of the masterminds of the gangs across the states.
The gangs have been terrorising their victims and members of the public, particularly in the South-South, South-West and the North-West zones of the country in the last few months.
Some of the victims were raped, maimed or murdered by the gang members, thereby inflicting psychological pains, humiliation and grief on the victims and their families, even after collecting huge sums in ransom from their families.
A statement yesterday by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Mr. Tony Opuiyo said the suspects were arrested in special tactical operations across flash point states.
Among the suspects arrested were Victor Afikparobo of the Federa Gang operating within Ikorodu/Otta axis in Lagos and Ogun states. He was arrested alongside some of his gang members on July 20.
John Felix, Rowson Anufa and Obukoko Emoabe operating along Lagos-Ikorodu Road and Owo in Ondo state were also arrested on July 22.
The statement said, “On 24th July, 2015, about 0230 hours, at Uduere, village in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, one Joseph Ojobor, aka chairman was also arrested. Subject is the leader of the Lagos cell of the “Federa” kidnap syndicate. He had also been linked to some incidents of illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
“Also, on the same 24th July, 2015, about 0500 hours, the team arrested another member of the Lagos cell of the “Federa” kidnap syndicate, one Timothy Japhet in his house at Onokpasa Avenue in Okhan village in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State.
“Earlier, on 19th July, 2015, another member of the notorious gang, one Howell Anufa was apprehended by the Service. The suspect was instrumental to the kidnap of the Regent of Akungba in Ondo State.
“Anufa also participated in the spate of kidnap incidents, carried out by the gang in Lagos and Ogun states respectively, before he relocated to Warri, Delta State, where he was eventually arrested.
“Furthermore, same date, the Service arrested one member of the Ekiti kidnap syndicate, Ayodeji Oluwafemi. Also, one Rachael Oladapo, a female, who was used by the gang as a reconnaissance spy and informant, was equally apprehended.
“In a follow-up tactical raid in Ekiti State, five (5) other members of the notorious Ekiti kidnap gang were intercepted by operatives of the DSS. They are Felix Omaiwa, Bose Ajayi, Tope Gabriel, Olayemi Ogunmola and Damilola Obamoyegun.
“Also, on 26th July, 2015, about 2000 hours, at Ibokun in Obokun LGA, Osun State, Service tactical team arrested three (3) kidnap suspects, Owolabi Olarewaju (aka Owo Blow), Olajide Ayobami (aka Gongo aso) and Gbenga David (aka Oruma)”.
The DSS also said another gang member, operating within Abia and Imo state axis, Henry Chibueze was arrested on July 16. He was described as a ruthless criminal who derived joy in shooting his victims in the leg whenever there was delay in ransom payment.Chibueze was said to have been arrested at his hideout in Ohafia, Abia State, where he was being treated for an injury he sustained when he escaped during an earlier operation in Owerri, Imo State.
Also in the net is Akeem Bello, a lance-corporal who deserted his unit in the Nigerian Army when he was deployed in Maiduguri, only to join vampire’s kidnap gang.
“Between 19– 20th July, 2015, at varied locations in Danko-Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, the Service apprehended four (4) suspected kidnappers of one Maryam Mohammed Rabiu, the daughter of Mohammed Rabiu who was abducted on 13th July 2015.
“The gang has been identified as the syndicate which perpetrated the recent kidnap of Abbas Mohammed Jega, the driver of the brother of Attahiru Jega (Prof), former Chairman of INEC.
“The gang in its bid to evade detection, used one of the three (3) mobile phones stolen earlier from Maryam Rabiu, to establish contact with the family, in which they demanded a ransom of Twenty Million Naira (N20m).
“On 24th July, 2015, at Mailaka village of Danko-Wasagu LGA, the Service also arrested three (3) key members of another kidnap syndicate operating across Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, FCT, Kwara and Oyo States.
“These elements are Umar Gide (Dudu), Ibrahim Mugu and Baban Garna Dudu was found to be involved in the kidnap of the daughter of former Council Chairman of Danko-Wasaju LGA and the mother of the Post-Master General of the Federation, among several others.
“Another member of the gang, Mohammed Sani, a.k.a Sani Maja, was arrested by the Service in Zamfara State,” the statement added.
The DSS said the operations were still ongoing to arrest fleeing members of some of the identified kidnap gangs and others hibernating at various areas across the federation.
The service added that judicial processes were being perfected to arraign the suspects in court.
It assured the citizenry that it would not relent in its efforts to checkmate the activities of any criminal gang that terrorising innocent citizens anywhere in the country.
The DSS urged members of the public to freely volunteer useful information that could assist in apprehending members of the criminal gangs anywhere they may be hiding.
The service assured that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality and dispatch.
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APC: DSS DG not our member
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied the allegation that the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, is a card-carrying member of the party (APC).
In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to publish any evidence it might have to confirm the allegation, adding: ‘’After all, it is trite that he who alleges must prove.’’
‘’In the absence of that, the PDP must call another press conference to publicly apologize to Nigerians for engaging in barefaced lies,’’ it said.
APC expressed shock that the PDP had started exhibiting symptoms of hallucination so soon after its gravy train derailed.
‘’We know that the psyche of the PDP has been badly affected by its loss of power at the centre. Even the party itself has admitted that much. That situation has now been compounded by the fact that the party is broke. It is, therefore, not a surprise that it is no longer able to think straight. The reality of its new situation is just beginning to dawn on it.
‘’But we warned the PDP early on that being in opposition is not a walk in the park. We warned that while the party was used to eating its bread with butter on both sides, it will now be lucky to even have bread to eat,’’ the party said.
It warned the PDP to spend more time on patching its tattered and battered umbrella than acting as a cog in the wheel of progress of the new Administration.
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DSS parades suspected kidnappers in Imo
The Department of State Services (DSS) has paraded a suspected cross-border kidnapper, Mr. Henry Chibueze, a.k.a Vampire, with his gang in Imo State. Chibueze is said to be responsible for the kidnappings in the Southeast, Southsouth and in neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Niger and Ivory Coast, where he resides.
Parading the suspects yesterday, DSS director Francis Ejiofor said ‘vampire’ was arrested after an operation where the victim’s family paid N15 million ransom for her release.
“Henry Chibueze, known as ‘vampire’, engages in kidnapping from Nigeria to Cotonou, Niger and Ivory Coast. He is a vicious kidnapper and he kills his victims at the slightest suspicion that security operatives are on his trail.
“When we heard he was in the state and had kidnapped a woman, we waited until he had collected the ransom and released the woman before going after him.
“We traced him to a hotel close to Owerri, where he planned to kidnap the tribunal judges who were lodged there, but our men stormed the place and he escaped with gunshot wounds to the home of his native doctor in Abia State, where he was picked up.
“Another member of the gang, Akeem Bello, who provides security, is an Army deserter. He uses his identity card to navigate security checkpoints,” Ejiofor said.
Vampire said he started the kidnapping business about five years back, boasting that he had lost count of how many victims he had killed.
He said he murdered his girlfriend and her entire family because she stole his N45 million.
“I killed my girlfriend and her parents because she stole my N45 million. I went to her family house in Lagos and when she saw me coming, she ran into the house. I went in and shot her and the other people in the house; she died instantly.
“I started kidnapping five years ago and I joined the business because my people did not train me. I am from Nwangele Local Government Area. I have killed many people but I don’t want to be released now; I want to stay in custody for many years so that my brain will cool down. I live in Abidjan with my wife and only daughter; I don’t know if she knows I have been arrested because she does not know the kind of business I do,” he said.
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DSS probes alleged N2.5b bribe in Akwa Ibom
THE Department of State Services (DSS) is probing an alleged N2.5 billion governorship election bribery scam in Akwa Ibom State involving some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It was learnt last night that the DSS interrogated some INEC officials from Akwa Ibom.
The investigation followed a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) through its counsel, Mr. Victor Iyanam.
A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are already looking into a petition on alleged N2.5 billion scandal involving some top officials and workers of INEC in Akwa Ibom State during the governorship election.
“In fact, the DSS has interacted with some INEC officials, including a top shot. We are also in receipt of photographs of some houses allegedly bought with the bribe sum.
“After the comprehensive investigation, we will release the identities of those investigated.”
It was learnt that some legal officers both in Abuja and Akwa Ibom might be questioned too by the security agency.
“The affected legal officers have shown very scant regard for the orders of the Election Petitions Tribunal,” the source added.
INEC’s Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State Mr. David Edak could not be reached on phone to comment on the list of those quizzed by the DSS in Abuja.
All calls made to his telephone line indicated that it was switched off.
But a source in the INEC office, who pleaded anonymity , said a “top official was invited by the DSS following the petition by the APC that a former governor allegedly bribed the REC N2.5 billion to work against the APC during the governorship poll.
The source said: “Yes, we learnt a top official was invited to explain the N2.5 billion bribery scandal allegedly given to him by the ex-governor. We even gathered that the top official spent close to two days at the DSS office answering questions.”
In the petition, the APC claimed that the bribe was targeted at frustrating the petition of its governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana.
The petition reads in part: “It has, however unfortunately, come to our notice that the obstinacy of the top INEC official to carry out the tribunal’s orders or cooperate with our client to carry out the inspection owes principally to the fact that N2.5 billion was disbursed to him by a former governor prior to the general elections and the official now feels obliged to complete the corrupt process by doing everything possible to frustrate the governorship petition of the APC candidate, Umana Okon Umana.”
The APC also expressed displeasure that INEC also mutilated some electoral materials.
It added: “It is now obvious that the attitude of the INEC official stems from the irreparable damage he caused to be done to electoral materials in Akwa Ibom State.
“Most electoral materials in Akwa Ibom State were deliberately destroyed; water was deliberately poured into the bags of materials while some were kept under the rain, contrary to the established practice of keeping the materials in envelopes according to their polling units
“We attach samples of electoral materials deliberately mutilated or otherwise destroyed by the corrupt and irresponsible orders of the INEC official. Could this be allowed to be business as usual, especially for the change we desire as a nation?”
“The conduct of the INEC top official; absolutely criminal in content, reckless in execution and done with impunity is not only a breach of public trust, but would have catastrophic consequences if allowed to go unpunished to serve as a deterrent. It is a shame that notwithstanding the large-scale fraud perpetuated by the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, agents of the party and the government in power are still bent on doing more damage to our collective psyche and stand in the way of justice.”
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DSS releases Jonathan’s ex-CSO Obua after six days in detention
Detained former Chief Security Officer to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gordon Obua, has been allowed to go home. He was released on Tuesday night by the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to sources, Obua was let go at about 10pm after six days in detention and hours after dispelling his rumoured death in custody at a news conference.
Obua told reporters at the news briefing that he was being debriefed by the agency after completing his tour of duty at the Presidential Villa as a former CSO to Dr. Jonathan.
There were reports that Obua’s detention had something to do with investigation into the disbursement of security vote, alleged financial mismanagement and money laundering at Aso Villa under his watch as CSO.
The former CSO, who suffers from diabetes and hypertension, took ill on Monday and was reportedly treated at a hospital.
His ill-health fueled speculations that he might have died in custody, prompting the management of the DSS to hurriedly organise a news conference to douse tension.
Obua had reporters that he was alive, hale and healthy, adding that the DSS management treated him well, being a security operative himself.
He said: “This morning, my attention was drawn to the fact that I have died in detention. This has caused serious anxiety in the public. I want to use this medium to tell Nigerians, members of my family and all concerned citizens that I’m healthy.
“I’m a staff of the Department of State Services and having completed my tour of duty as the chief security officer to the last President, the service feels that I should give account of my tenure.”