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Tag: DSS

  • Assault of student: NANS petitions IGP, Obiano, DSS

    Assault of student: NANS petitions IGP, Obiano, DSS

    Following the alleged assault on a female student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in Anambra state by a lawyer, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone-B, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police.

    NANS, which carried out a protest on Monday in Awka, blocked the Goodwill Junction axis of Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno-Awka, for over an hour.

    NANS Zone-B, Coordinator Mr. Ikechukwu Okorie led other students to also shut the office of the accused lawyer, Mr Albert Okwudinka.

    The copies of the petition to the IGP were made available to reporters Monday by the NANS coordinator Okorie.

    He alleged that the student, Miss Chioma Ifemeludike, was pushed down from a storey building on the orders of the lawyer.

    “Ifemeludike, a 300 level student of Political Science had paid all dues required to be accommodated as tenant of an apartment at Big Brother Castle, Awka being managed by the lawyer.

    According to him, “Following the payment, she attempted to install the signal dish of her DSTV cable on June 15 at a vantage position where other tenants had mounted theirs but was prevented by the lawyer.

    “The lawyer had given frivolous grounds that a separate request and payment be made before installation.

    “At the persistence of Ifemeludike, Okwudinka threatened and affirmed that should she dare mount the platform, she would have to live to tell the story if she is fortunate to be alive.

    “The lawyer after threatening her, ordered his staff and a security guard within the premises to push her down from a height of a storey-building,” the petition read.

    Reacting, the lawyer described the allegation as “false”, noting that efforts were already on to resolve the matter at the Police station with her relatives.

    Okwudinka said, “I did not order anyone to push or beat Ifemeludike but only ordered that the DSTV signal dish which she installed be removed”

    “She fell down while dragging the signal dish with the person I ordered to remove it,” he said.

    But Okorie, noted that Ifemeludike suffered serious life threatening bodily injuries which did not attract the sympathy of Okwudinka who, he alleged only showed pretentious remorse.

    The Coordinator said that the lawyer ignored the call to show up at the B-division Police station, Awka, where the matter was first reported until it was transferred to Area Command.

    NANS, therefore, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General, Directorate of State Services (DSS), the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, the Nigerian Bar Association, among others to wade into the matter.

    Ifemeludike, the victim, is the National President of National Association of Nigerian Female Students.

    She told reporters that the protest and petition was to ensure that justice prevailed.

    “If I as the female president of NANS can be treated like this, then no female student is safe,” she added.

  • Terrorism: Court orders DSS to release Islamic cleric

    A Federal High court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday ordered operatives of the Department of the State Security Service to release the detained terrorism suspect, Ganiyu Ibrahim-Jimoh from custody immediately, saying the agency does not possess unlimited power to keep the Islamic cleric in custody indefinitely.

    The court said the arrest and continued detention of the cleric by the Ogun state Command of DSS is not only “illegal and unconstitutional,” but also an “abuse of his fundamental human rights.”

    Delivering judgment in a suit filed on his behalf by the Prisoners Right Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), Justice F. O. Ogunbanjo, held that the detention of Ibrahim – Jimoh since July 5, 2014 without trial, violated provisions of the nation’s constitution.

    The judge ordered for his immediate release from the DSS custody.

    He also ordered the agency to pay N1million naira to the cleric and tender public apology to him.

     

  • Court declines to restrain IGP, DSS, EFCC over Nyako’s arrest

    Former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako yesterday failed in a bid to restrain the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting him.

    Nyako had, by a motion ex-parte, sought an interim injunction restraining the three from arresting or detaining him in relation to a case of alleged financial malpractices pending, for which he suspected either the IGP, DSS or EFCC might arrest and prosecute him.

    His lawyer, O. E. Ogungbeje, moving the motion, urged the court to restrain the IGP, DSS and EFCC pending the determination of an origination motion he filed for the enforcement of his rights.

    Justice Ahmed Mohhammed refused the ex-governor’s prayer on the grounds that there was no sufficient reason for the court to restrain the IGP, DSS and EFCC, listed as respondents.

    “Having read through the supporting affidavit, particularly paragraphs 5 to 19, which contain facts relating to this case, this court is unable to accede to the request for the order of interim injunction sought,” the judge said.

    He ordered Nyako to put the respondents on notice about any application for injunction filed against them.

    Justice Mohammed also ordered Nyako to serve the originating motion he filed on May 28 on the respondents within seven days from yesterday and adjourned till July 1 for hearing.

    Nyako is, by the substantive suit, seeking to among others, restrain the respondents from arresting or detaining him in relation to the allegation of financial misconduct while in office as the governor.

     

  • DSS assaults APC chieftain in Anambra

    DSS assaults APC chieftain in Anambra

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Anambra State, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nwokoye, was allegedly beaten up by men of the Department of State Security (DSS) on Monday.

    Nwokoye, who almost got blind from the assault, was battered for refusing to release information about the 22 expatriate doctors invited by Governor Willie Obiano for the treatment of indigent  persons.

    He said he was bundled with his wife, Jessica, to their office at Amawbia, and abandoned naked.

    The APC chieftain said they hit him with guns, helmet and others until he fainted.

    “I was handcuffed like a criminal; I have never seen such a thing in my life, my retina has been damaged, I was humiliated for no offence.”

    “I was in the hotel when three people walked in, saying they had information that expatriates were quartered in the hotel.

    “I demanded their identities and told them the expatriates were there on government’s directive. They refused and one of them said they will deal with me.

    “At that point, I moved outside the room, called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and ordered that the gate be locked. But I think they called for reinforcement because about 20 minutes later, I heard sirens outside the hotel compound.

    “They beat me up, bundling  my wife and I into their vehicle. At their office, we were dumped in the cell. Later, they brought me out, removed my clothes and left me naked.

    “One of the men kicked me at the lower part of my body and I fainted, but their boss ordered that I be clothed. When I regained consciousness, I was on a stretcher in their clinic,” Nwokoye said.

    He said he would press charges and demand justice.

    But DSS Director Okeiyi said Nwokoye kidnapped his men when they attempted to rescue their colleagues whom he held hostage in his hotel.

    “He sustained injury in the struggle to rescue my men. My men went to the hotel on legitimate duties and that is the norm everywhere.

    “People should learn to respect security operatives because we are working for them.

    ‘’Securing Anambra is at a cost, people should help us; our men are being targeted by hoodlums all the time,” Okeiyi said.

    The DSS boss said the command would press charges against Nwokoyo for assault, occasioning harm and hostage-taking.

  • DSS cautions against provocative statements

    THE Department of State Services has warned those making provocative statement to desist from it, adding that such statements will not be tolerated.

    The DSS, while assuring the citizenry of adequate security, urged them to shun political violence as they prepare for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly election.

    This is contained in a statement yesterday by its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar.

    It reads: “The attention of this Service has been drawn to certain unguarded, inciting and divisive statements by some persons. We want to warn those stoking these embers of violence and disunity to desist, as this will not be tolerated. We should all strive to strengthen our nascent democracy as we work towards building a better Nigeria.”

     

  • Violence: Ahmed petitions presidency, IG, NSA, DSS

    Violence: Ahmed petitions presidency, IG, NSA, DSS

    The Kwara state government has petitioned the presidency, Inspector General of Police (IGP) altering them on the new spate of violence orchestrated by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    Also petitioned are National Security Adviser (NSA) and Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS).

    Suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs last Saturday allegedly attacked some All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Osi and Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ekiti local government area of the state.

    The state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed told reporters in Olooru, Moro local government area of the state during the campaign tour of the council.

    Governor Ahmed said that “the petition to the security agents is to forestall this kind of violence and allow for free and fair electoral processes.”

    He said: “The violence in the two communities in Ekiti local government allegedly perpetrated by PDP thugs is an unfortunate situation and we have written our petition to the President, Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba and other stakeholders on security including the National Security Adviser (NSA) and DSS alerting them on the new spate of violence that has been started by the PDP the moment it started its campaigns in the state.

    “Don’t forget that we had done our campaign in about 14 local government areas hitch-free without any violence. Violence started when PDP commenced its campaigns with sporadic shootings and attacks.”

    Speaking on the incident, former governor of the state, Senator Bukola Saraki urged security agents to call the governorship candidate of the PDP, Senator Simeon Ajibola to order.

    His words: “As you know out of the 16 local government areas in the state, it has always been that same local government we experienced violence during campaigns. When the APC took its governorship campaign tour there, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s convoy was attacked by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs.

    “Last week again, when the PDP governorship candidate took his campaign there, some of the PDP thugs again unleashed mayhem in the two communities vandalizing people’s property.

    “The PDP governorship candidate must be held responsible. It is not by coincidence. Why is it that every time the PDP candidate is going around there will be violence?
    On the deployment of soldiers across the 16 local government areas of the state, Governor Ahmed said “it is part of the responsibility of ensuring that we have a hitch-free election

    “By and large, we have been carrying on advocacy to our people telling them to go about their work diligently without any breakdown of law and order; that the security agents they are seeing should not be source of intimidation for them.”

  • DSS arrests six kidnap suspects in Edo

    DSS arrests six kidnap suspects in Edo

    Men of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Edo State have arrested six men said to be involved in the kidnap of a former local government chairman Mr. Anselm Adima.

    The suspects were also said to be involved in the kidnap of a woman who was raped in the presence of her daughter, with the pictures of the act taken. The daughter, who was also a victim of the kidnappers, was said to have been spared the trauma of the kidnappers’ raging libido.

    Another suspect was said to have been a fraudster who impersonates the Chief of Air Staff to hoodwink his unsuspecting victims.

    Parading the suspects before Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday, Director of the state command of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Bello Bakori said: “This group of criminals here paraded are those involved in fraud, kidnapping, car snatching and robbery.

    He said: “The group was involved in the kidnapping of the former Transitional Committee Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area, Mr. Anselm Adima, where N3 million was paid as ransom.

    “One of these boys is a notorious fraudster who goes about swindling members of the public and even impersonating the Chief of Air Staff. We have this one, Isaac Ogun, collecting money from the public using the name of one Mr. Balogun and just recently, many cases have been established against him in Jos and other places and luckily he was arrested recently based on a complaint from the Airforce that someone is going about impersonating the Chief of Air Staff.”

    The DSS Director said: “Prince Nwanze, Osagie Oriarevbu, Oziegbe Akhimien, Kenneth Okosun, Ehizojie Okha were involved in the kidnapping and snatching of a car belonging to a woman who was kidnapped along with her daughter at Uromi. The victim was not only kidnapped but raped by the suspects and the car later sold in Jos.”

    While commending the SSS for a job well done, Governor Oshiomhole said, “these people we see here are very normal human beings. When people tell you their experiences, you think that they are people made in hell and listening to them, it is also clear that it is all about greed.

    “Some of them are students who want to live like the boss. They want to own cars, wear the most expensive clothes. So those are apparently what have lured them into this very unfortunate thing. I think each time we are able to apprehend criminals like these, at least the point is made that the culture of impunity, is stopped, they know that something can happen and something is happening.

    “It may take time but as they say, time does not run against the state. Eventually nobody commits crime and goes scot free so my appeal to our young people is you cannot be too smart as to be able to run away from your own shadow. The more you run, the more the shadow will chase you and eventually it will catch up with you.”

    He appreciated the Director, officers and men of the Command for the risk they have been taking in combating crime and ensuring peace and security in the state and assured the Command of the government’s support in the fight against crime.

  • Boko Haram: DSS urges vigilance

    Boko Haram: DSS urges vigilance

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has advised  the public to remain  vigilant as the military continues raids on Boko Haram’s   fortresses and hideouts in the Northeast..

    Spokesperson for  the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar said the terrorists have resorted to taking on soft targets, killing and maiming of innocent and unarmed citizens.

    “It has become evident,” she said  “that following the successful sustained air raids and intense combat operations by the military on insurgents’ positions in the Northeast, which have effectively degraded the capacity of the terrorists, its members are now in disarray and have resorted to taking out their anger on hapless civilians and soft targets.

    “This development accounts for the recent spate of attacks recorded in Yobe, Kano, Borno and Plateau States with intent of distracting security forces.

    “Accordingly, this Service wishes to advise members of the public to be vigilant, especially in crowded environment and when travelling. Commuters should desist from boarding unmarked vehicles along the road and only use designated motor parks. “

    The agency asked  motor park managers to ensure proper screening of vehicles, persons and luggage entering their premises,and be on the look out for new faces who show up as drivers and conductors.

    It encouraged residents of recaptured towns and communities to return to their homes,saying “there is no need for people to relocate from any part of the country because of the forthcoming elections as adequate steps have been taken by security forces to guarantee security of lives and property.

    “Members of the public with useful information of untoward activities in their localities are advised to forward same to security agencies. We wish to restate once more, the commitment of security forces to bring to an end the activities of terrorists and unscrupulous elements in our country”.

  • Nyanya blast: Again, FG fails to arraign Ogwuchie, six others

    For the third time, the Federal Government on Friday failed to arraign the 29- year-old Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, accused of being the mastermind of the April 14, 2014 bombing in Nyanya, Abuja.

    This time, it was the absence of the court’s interpreter that prevented his arraignment alongside six others named in a fresh seven-count charge now before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    In November last year, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who was in charge of the case before it was resigned to Justice Mohammed, was forced to strike out an earlier charge brought against Ogwuche for lack of diligent prosecution.

    The Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police Force had disagreed severally over which agency should handle the case.

    The seven accused persons present in court on Friday are – Ogwuche, Akhmad Rufai Abubakar (aka Abu Ibrahim/Maitirare), Mohammed Sani Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (aka Kofar Rama), Anas Isah, Adamu Yusuf and Nasiru Abubakar.

     

  • DSS arrests eight

    The Anambra State Command of the Department of State Security (DSS) has arrested eight members of a syndicate, which specialised in defrauding, hostage taking and defiling.

    They are Joseph Onah (27) from Enugu State; Chinedu Ogbodo(30) Enugu State; Uchechukwu Mgbemena (36) from Obosi in Anambra State.

    Others are Charles Onyebuchi (35) from Obosi; Martin Ugokwe (22) and John Arinze from Delta State.