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Tag: DSS

  • DSS warns politicians over ‘inciting statements’

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has issued what it described as a “last warning” to politicians “seeking to truncate” the nation’s democracy by their “careless and obviously mischievous utterances and actions.”

    In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson of the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, the Service warned of dire consequences for the said politicians if they fail to retrace their steps immediately.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to inciting and unguarded statements and utterances by some politicians ahead of the 2015 general election.

    “Of particular interest is the statement of a serving governor calling on men of the armed forces to rise up in protest against constituted authority, with the intent to undermine the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Their actions which are intended to achieve their desires are irresponsible, selfish and against our collective wellbeing as a nation. It is noteworthy that similar unguarded provocative statements by politicians in the past had encouraged violence that resulted in loss of innocent lives and property.

    “It is pertinent to note that no Nigerian is above the laws of this land. Political office holders must not hide under the privileges of their offices to perpetrate and encourage the commission of acts inimical to the general interest of this nation, as this will henceforth not be tolerated.

    “This statement therefore serves as the last warning to all those seeking to truncate the nation’s democracy by their careless and obviously mischievous utterances and actions to desist and retrace their steps immediately.

    “This Service and indeed all security agencies will not rest on their oars and are committed to the successful conduct of the 2015 general election in Nigeria.”

     

  • No planned attack on Madalla, says DSS

    No planned attack on Madalla, says DSS

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has said it is a mere rumour that there will be an insurgent attack on Madalla, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    DSS spokesperson, Ms Marilyn Ogar, spoke yesterday at the regular security briefing in Abuja.

    She said Madalla residents should disregard the rumour because there was no truth in it.

    Madalla was attacked on Christmas day some years back.

    Ms Ogar said security agencies were working round the clock to ensure that Christian all over the country enjoy a peaceful celebration.

    The DSS spokesperson said the seven suspects, who had been parading themselves as negotiators and paraded by the DSS this week, would be charged to court soon.

    She said none of the suspects was tortured to extract information from them, adding that the information divulged from them was given willingly.

    The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, also spoke on efforts to secure the lives of Nigerians during the Christmas and the New Year.

    He said: “As 2014 gradually comes to an end, Nigerians have been warned to be security-conscious, especially during the end of the year festivities.

    “Already, security agencies have been intimated of plans by insurgents to carry out major attacks against soft targets.

    “These targets include motor parks, churches, schools, mosques, recreational centres, such as amusement parks and viewing centres, among others. The aim is to exploit the festive period with the attendant mass gatherings for religious programmes, schools’ end-of-year parties and family picnics to cause large scale destruction of lives and properties…”

  • Bullet points for Tompolo, DSS, Fayose, Patience

    Bullet points for Tompolo, DSS, Fayose, Patience

    Tompolo and the Boys Company (BC) I am tempted to start by saying Tompolo, I dey laugh o! The story of a certain fellow by the queer name of Government Ekpemuopolo Tompolo always evokes hearty laughter in me each time I read it. It always reminds me of the Boys Company of the Biafran Army. Yours truly was not eligible, being not old enough, but I heard stories of the exploits of the BC from bigger boys of the day.

    To cut the story short, young lads of the BC were supposed to be spies ferreting information from enemy camps. But most of them, they did not realise that war was death; many of them thought it was some form of a game and they got wasted in their numbers.

    When a Norwegian newspaper reported that Tompolo, a pardoned and rehabilitated Niger Delta militant, had acquired six guided missile boats (GMBs) I laughed like crazy, I laughed so hard tears welled up in my eyes. I laughed hard as so many thoughts streamed across my mind. The thought of some rickety, disused ferries (as pictures show) that were refitted with some AK47s and sold to ‘stupid Nigerians’ by oyinbos at outrageous prices; I thought of ‘General’ Tompolo, Commander of the  Republic of Niger Delta Armed Forces; I thought of Nigeria’s strategic national resources in the hands of an ill-lettered little man, I thought of a castrated Nigerian Navy taking orders from Tompolo; the thought of (and pity for) Itsekiri people who know that they can be annihilated if not exterminated in just one drunken night. I thought of and felt pity for NIMASA people who are biting their tongues trying to defend an institutionalised madness not knowing that only NIMASA still keeps silly secrets, the world now being an open door.

    I laughed some more and sympathised with both the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Tompolo Ekpemuokpolo Government (TEG) knowing that as we say in my place, mgbe osuru, mgbe asi chi si tama, it may not be a matter of six rusty gunboats (that the up thrust of a submarine would wash to the shore) but 60 or even 6000, or more. So join me in laughing dear reader.

     Dilemma of the gallant DSS Give it to the Department of State Service (DSS), they are not like the Gallant Mopol as we all know; no, far from such coarseness. They are our elite force trained in the art of the clandestine and unseen. Since they bear no known means of identification, you can jolly well say they are licensed to spook.

    But the DSS may have spoofed this time when they paraded some spindly fellows they claim were fake commanders of the Boko Haram who staged a fake ceasefire negotiation with the Federal Government. The seven suspects were apparently working in cahoots with one Stephen Davis, an Australian self-style negotiator. Now why would our DSS so triumphantly and even gallantly deign to have made a breakthrough by parading this hapless conmen who had beaten them silly by exposing their inefficiency in the first place. And so many questions arise: what manner of intelligence and dossier does the DSS have on Boko Haram and the terrorism war in Africa generally? Is it not numbingly embarrassing that the Federal Government could be so easily deceived and embarrassed by these little fellows? How many millions of dollars were paid to them? Where is the money?

     Going by the narrative of DSS spokesman Marilyn Ogar, these fake  characters operated for many months between Abuja and Maiduguri, held numerous meetings in public places yet they were not preempted until they thoroughly embarrassed us. Who on earth is Stephen Davis? Can Stephen Osuji surface in Australia tomorrow and pretend to be an expert in anything and the Australian secret service would not run riot over him? Could it be that our DSS did not check out Stephen Davis because he is wearing miserable white skin?

    Sorry, DSS’ ‘success’ in catching these fake negotiators merely signposts this column’s assertion that Boko Haram is as much a failure of leadership as it is a failure of intelligence. Are we gonna parade the unit that failed in this duty?

    Emperor Fayose in wonderland I admit there are one or two other cases in the land that bear a semblance of what is brewing in Ekiti State now but let us give Governor Ayo Fayose the trophy for putting a comical edge this macabre drama. In Rivers and Edo States, there are  stand-offs resulting from executive-legislature power tussle, we acknowledge.

    But in Ekiti state, it is sardonic enough that Fayose chased majority of the State’s legislators out of town leaving only seven renegades but he has carried on as if he were a 16th century divine monarch.

    He did not only get the seven popinjays to sit and conduct the business of the House, he co-opted scallywags and miscreants to make up the number, sitting on the hallowed seats of honorable members and desecrating the legislature.

    The first time these seven renegades plus 19 thugs ‘approved’ the Ekiti State’s commissioners’ list (i.e the executive council) we thought it was a momentary lapse of memory. Last Monday the charade was reenacted now on a grand scale. The ‘mock’ assembly sat again in Ado Ekiti to pass the State’s Appropriation Bill.

    According to the report, again the seven ‘law-mockers’ were seated and all the fleeing lawmakers’ seats were occupied as visitors were allowed to seat in the chambers. Some traditional rulers where present; there was a full complement of soldiers, police, Department of State Service (DSS), Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The press were barred save for the Governor’s Office and House of Assembly Press Corps. No broadcast journalists were allowed to record the evil gathering on video.

    In the manner of emperors, Governor Fayose was reported to have reassured the renegade speaker that, “You, (Dele Olugbemi) are the Speaker of this Assembly and nobody can remove you from this position. I want to emphasise that this speaker would remain in office till June.” You must pinch yourself to find out if you are in 1614 or 2014 for I have just done that.

    Empathizing with Mama Peace in a time of ‘war’ What do you do with a well-known certified peacemaker in time of intense, internecine ‘warfare’? Well, that is a very tough question and this is the dilemma of our First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan aka, Mama Peace of Africa.

    Last weekend, Dame Patience was in her homeland, Okrika; she gathered the chieftains and owners of the land and declared to them in her oft unmatched candour: “Before you today is the next governor of Rivers State. He is the former Minister of State for Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike.”

    Those who have eyes have seen Dame Patience’ gloved hands in many states in the run up to the PDP primaries across the land. Mama is PDP’s field marshalling leading the political ‘army’ into the next election. She is the chief endorser, enforcer and even fixer.

    Those who know can tell that of all the battle fronts, Rivers State would test Mama’s mettle the most. Up against Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the State, no prisoners would be allowed and the winner will take all. Dear reader, you would do well to keep very far away from that vicinity so that you do not get be-splattered… ka Chineke mezie okwu. Amim.

    The Buhari epiphany

    Dear reader, you would recall that this column vowed sometime ago never to vote for General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). It must have been sometime in 2012 when he issued some mumbo-jumbo about the blood of baboons and monkeys flowing and all that. Coming when the post-election fires of 2011 were yet to be cold, one could not understand an elder statesman speaking in such manner.

    But since then, the general has continued to change his approach and project a national outlook to his politics. In view of the dire situation of our dear country today, this column will revisit that vow. Having won the presidential flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), this must be Buhari’s epiphany. Or shall we say Nigeria’s epiphany?

    As the campaign days go by, this column will attempt some disquisitions on the Buhari factor at this juncture of Nigerian politics. It is Buhari’s be all and end all moment, his make or mar juncture; his epiphany. And mark you, he will have to work his lean butts off for it. An epic battle it will be against the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan.

  • No planned attack on Madalla – DSS

    The Department of State Security has described as rumour the information spreading around about an impending insurgent attack on Madalla, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, who spoke at the regular security briefing in Abuja, Thursday, said Madalla residents should ignore the rumour as there was no iota of truth in it.

    Madalla came under massive attack on a Christmas Day some years back.

    Ogar said security efforts are being intensified to ensure that Christians all over the country enjoy a peaceful celebration as the yuletide season draws near.

    She said the seven suspects who have been parading themselves as Boko Haram negotiators and was paraded by the DSS within the week will be charged to court soon.
    He said none of the suspects was tortured to extract information from them, adding that all that obtained from the suspects were given willingly.

    Mike Omeri, the Coordinator of the National Information Centre who also spoke on efforts to secure the lives of Nigerians during the Christmas and New Year celebrations said, “As year 2014 gradually comes to an end, Nigerians have been warned to be very security conscious especially during the end of the year festivities.

    “Already, security agencies have been intimated of plans by insurgents to carry out major attacks against soft targets.

    “These targets include motor parks, churches, schools, mosques, recreational centres such as amusement parks and viewing centres among others. The aim is to exploit the festive period with the attendant mass gatherings for religious programmes, school end of year parties and family picnics to cause large scale destruction of lives and properties”

    “Consequently, security agencies have been directed to beef up survelliance in such locations around the country, citizens will have also noticed the increased presence of policemen deployed at various locations for their safety. They are therefore also advised to exercise a high level of vigilance and cooperate with security agencies in a bid to ensure a hitch free yuletide,” Omeri said.

     

  • Boko Haram: DSS defends Sheriff

    Boko Haram: DSS defends Sheriff

    •Agency indicts Australian negotiator, others

    THE Department of State Security (DSS) said yesterday that it had uncovered plots by certain persons to implicate the former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, with the view to portraying him as a Boko Haram sponsor.

    The DSS accused Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Steven Davis, of acting with the said suspects in the bungled ceasefire talks between the Federal Government and the sect.

    Its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, paraded seven suspects in Abuja,  for allegedly conniving with Davis to “make merchandise” of the Boko Haram insurgency through “concocted and fabricated” stories.

    The suspects are: Junaid Idrissa Khadi, Abubakar Yusuf (aka Baba Sani), Saleh Alhaji Ibrahim (Liman Ibrahim), Abdullahi Saleh (aka Babadale), Nurudeen Ibrahim, Mubarak Adamu (aka Molo) and Mustapha Maidugu (aka Musty or Small).

    Ogar said: “It is necessary to state here that Davis and his cohorts are among several other local and international groups, who are out to make merchandise of the Boko Haram insurgency through concocted and fabricated stories.

    “These subversive campaigns are also aimed at permeating and shaping political discourse as well as challenge the integrity of our national security and stir discontent among Nigerians and our esteemed allies in the war against terror.”

    According to the spokesperson, the discovery was as a result of investigation on the activities of the Australian negotiator in the Boko Haram saga, particularly his claims regarding the identities of sponsors of the sect.

    Davis had, a few months ago, insisted that Sheriff and the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, were some of the sponsors of the dreaded sect.

    Ogar continued: “Recall that on 29th August, 2014, one Steven Davis, an Australian self-styled negotiator for the Boko Haram sect had alleged that Ali Modu Sheriff (senator) and Azubuike Ihejirika (Lt.Gen/rtd), former Governor of Borno State and former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) respectively were among chief sponsors of the Boko Haram sect.

    “Davis premised his ‘findings’ on discussions with several field commanders of the sect, who allegedly expressed willingness of the sect to negotiate with the Federal Government if Davis would spearhead such dialogue. To buttress this, he posted a photograph of himself taken in 2013 with some alleged sect members.

    “Based on the allegation, this Service initiated an in-depth-investigation into the matter. Consequently, seven associates of Davis were arrested and it has been established that they were part of a well-orchestrated plan to spread falsehood, undermine and discredit efforts of government to end terrorism”.

    The DSS alleged that the suspects had confessed to conspiring with Davis to implicate Sheriff, with monetary inducements of various sums.

    Ogar also said the suspects claimed that Davis single-handedly “conjured” the indictment on Ihejirika, based on allegations that the military under the former COAS was responsible for his several failed attempts to make contact with the Presidency.

    The DSS also accused the Australian of assembling the suspects and presenting them to government negotiators as Boko Haram commanders, adding that the suspects also, at various times, posed with Davis on You Tube as some of the sect’s commanders.

    This, Ogar said, was aimed at misleading the Federal Government and compelling it to negotiate with the “fraudulent group”.

    Vowing to take appropriate action against the suspects, the DSS said: “We want to reiterate once more, that this Service is committed to bringing to justice all who sponsor or partake in the publication of subversive reports against this country. We shall not rest on our oars until our country is rid of all unwholesome activities”.

    But Isa Gusau, the media associate to Governor Kashim Shettima, in a statement yesterday, claimed that one of that paraded suspects, Khadi, was first appointed by Sheriff in 2010 and he was retained by Shettima in 2011 on Sheriff’s request

    The statement said the state government was compelled to respond based on enquiries by the media following the parade of Khadi by the DSS.

     

    Gusau said: “While it is not the tradition of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to join issues with security agencies as he holds each of them in high esteem, we are concerned about an insinuation concerning the status of Khadi, who was presented as an aide to Shettima. We don’t want to question the integrity of the security agency involved and hence cannot outrightly allege political motive to bring Shettima’s image to disrepute.

    “First, let it be noted that our clarification here is not intended to pronounce Khadi guilty of whatever reasons that led to his arrest. The clarification is simply to put the records in their proper perspective.

    “Khadi was a Special Adviser to Shettima following his appointment in 2013 on the insistence of ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, who at that time, had the listening ears of his successor, Governor Shettima.

    “It is important to note that Governor Kashim Shettima never found Khadi with any questionable character as at the time he was appointed. If at all Khadi had any questionable character, such can only be best known by those he first associated with before Shettima became a Governor in 2011 or perhaps, those that persistently recommended him to Shettima for reappointment.”

    The statement called on the security agency to accord the fairest hearing to Khadi, “as it should to every other Nigerian arrested for whatever reason.”

     

  • Chidoka orders probe into aircraft damage at Lagos Airport

    Chidoka orders probe into aircraft damage at Lagos Airport

    Minster of Aviation Chief Osita Chidoka has ordered  that the destruction of the wind shield of three DORNIER Jets parked at the apron  of the old domestic wing of the Lagos Airport  be investigated.

    The minister said the probe would ascertain the cause of the incident.

    Chidoka said he received complaints from the aircraft owner, who is disturbed over the state of security at the airside.

    He said it was too early to establish sabotage as the reason for the destruction of the wind shield of the three aircraft  as alleged in some quartets .

    Chidoka said he had_General of the Department of State Services ( DSS ) , which officials have begun investigations to fish out those behind the act.

    The minister said: “The ministry has received complaints from the Chairman of Air Peace over the destruction of the wind shield of his three DORNIER Jets parked at the apron of the old domestic terminal of the Lagos Airport.

    He is very worried over the unfortunate development and is suspecting sabotage . I have assured him that we will find out what happened,  because this is unacceptable.

    I have reported the matter to the director general of State Security Services,  I can assure you that the matter is being investigated. “

    The minister also spoke of plans to improve security at airports, urging security personnel and others to step up measures to improve access control.

    He said security agencies including the Nigeria Air Force are assisting to implement new measures at airports.

    Last  month, the minister ordered a review of the state of security at all airport terminals.

    Chidoka noted that the FAA Category 1 status has provided the ministry opportunity to review all its security details and ensure safety of air passengers, saying he has ordered all the airline operators and airport officials to comply with the modus operandi.

    Acknowledging the remodelling of the airport terminals by the former Aviation Minister, Stella Odua, Chidoka said all resources would be deployed to upgrading of security at the airport and ensuring safety of passengers, in line with global standard.

    He said: “That is why I have ordered a total review of security at the airport with a view that they meet global best practices.

    “My predecessor has already focused on the remodelling of the terminal building, so there is nothing much to do about that, except to finish what is being done, so we need to move away from that and focus on the security and safety of passengers.

    He noted that the ministry is making sure that there is an alignment between the safety on air and security of passengers at the terminal building.

    “While we want the passenger to move in more comfortable manner, we don’t want to compromise the security of the airport, so our major strategy is to begin to look into the security component of our work.

  • DSS again raids APC’s data centre

    DSS again raids APC’s data centre

    •It’s lawless, provocative, says party

    All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged yesterday that agents of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) last Monday, carried out a second raid on the party’s data centre in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Describing the action as “the height of lawlessness and an orchestrated provocation”, the party said the “agency must urgently be called to order.”

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said: ‘’The raid by over 40 armed DSS officers, despite a court order restraining the service from such action, shows that the DSS considers itself to be above the laws of the land, and this is totally condemnable.

    ‘’Even under a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) government that has nothing, but contempt for constitutional order, the lack of respect for a court order by an institution of state like the DSS has plumbed the depth of anomie, and shows that our democracy is in clear and present danger from anarchists.’’

    The party said the 40 armed DSS officers, who came with trucks, shoved the security men at the building aside and broke into the storage facility, where they carted away over 30 bags filled with the APC membership registration forms.

    It said the raid came on the same day it challenged the DSS to make public its findings after the first raid that was widely condemned within and outside the country.

    The statement also reads: ‘’It is sensible to conclude that the DSS’ second raid was its own crude reaction to the challenge we posed to it. Apparently yet to find any evidence of PVC cloning as alleged by the DSS, it is now quite desperate to manufacture evidence to justify its raids.

    “Or how else does one explain the claim by the service that its ‘findings’ will shock Nigerians, even at a time it is still in search of evidence? Is this how self-respecting intelligence agencies conduct their operations?

    ‘’It is curious that an institution of state will continue to act like an enforcement arm of the ruling party by constantly harassing the opposition. It is strange that an organisation that should be deploying its best staff to gather useful intelligence that can help the nation to win the anti-terrorism war is instead engaging in terrorising the opposition.

    ‘’It is time to call the DSS to order, and to remind those at the helms of affairs that while they may be having a free rein today, they will one day rue their actions at this critical time in our nation’s history.”

    APC said it was particularly alarming that the DSS carried out its raid despite the November 26 order by Justice Mohammed Nasir Yenusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, restraining the service from further sealing off the data centre or taking further steps in connection with the property.

    The party said the moment Nigerians could no longer seek redress in court, “just because the law enforcement agencies have elevated themselves above the law, the country can as well bid good goodbye to constitutional order.”

    It blamed the prevailing atmosphere of lawlessness on the culture of impunity under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, wondering whether that was the legacy the president wanted to leave after his tenure.

     

  • APC data centre raided again

    APC data centre raided again

    … Party to FG: Call DSS to order

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Monday night’s second raid on the party’s data centre in Ikeja, Lagos, by the Directorate of State Security, as height of lawlessness and an orchestrated provocation.

    The party in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the “the out-of-control agency must be urgently called to order.”

    ”The raid by over 40 armed DSS officers, despite a court order restraining the service from such action, shows that the DSS considers itself to be above the laws of the land, and this is totally condemnable.

    ”Even under a PDP government that has nothing but contempt for constitutional order, the lack of respect for a court order by an institution of state like the DSS has plumbed the depth of anomie, and shows that our democracy is in clear and present danger from anarchists,” it said.

    According to the APC, the 40 armed DSS officers, who came with trucks, shoved the security personnel at the building aside and broke into the storage facility from where they carted away over 30 bags filled with the party’s membership registration forms.

    The party said the raid came on the same day it challenged the DSS to make public its findings after the first raid that was widely condemned within and outside Nigeria, and described as the “worst political scandal in the nation’s history.”

    ”It is sensible to conclude that the DSS’ second raid was its own crude reaction to the challenge we posed to it. Apparently yet to find any evidence of PVC cloning as alleged by the DSS, it is now quite desperate to manufacture evidence to justify its raids. Or how else does one explain the claim by the service that its ‘findings’ will shock Nigerians, even at a time it is still in search of evidence? Is this how self-respecting intelligence agencies conduct their operations?

    ”It is curious that an institution of state will continue to act like an enforcement arm of the ruling party by constantly harassing the opposition. It is strange that an organization that should be deploying its best staff to gather useful intelligence that can help the nation to win the anti-terrorism war is instead engaging in terrorizing the opposition.

    ”It is time to call the DSS to order, and to remind those at the helms of affairs that while they may be having a free rein today, they will one day rue their actions at this critical time in our nation’s history,” the APC said.

     

  • Court orders release of detained APC workers

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the immediate release of five detained All Progressives Congress (APC) workers.

    He restrained the Department of State Security Services (DSS) from further arresting Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Chika Augustine Onochukwu, Ebun Ilori and Esther

    Enemuwe who had been held since the DSS raided the party’s data centre on November 22.

    The court had also ordered that the DSS should unseal the data office/warehouse located at 10, Bola Ajibola Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, forthwith.

    But APC’s lawyer, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), said the DSS was yet to obey the order.

    The agency’s counsel, Clifford Osagie, said it was not true that the place was still under DSS seal.

    Justice Yunusa held that the defendants had been detained beyond the two days allowed in law.

    He said the DSS did so without a valid warrant. Besides, the matter before him was a fundamental rights enforcement suit, and not a criminal case, he added.

    Therefore, the applicants cannot be arrested and detained, while the DSS conducted its investigations, he held.

    The judge also faulted the detention warrant on which basis DSS claimed to be acting, saying it was obtained outside jurisdiction and therefore is illegal.

    “No enforcement agency has the power to arrest without a warrant,” he said, adding that Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution provides that any person arrested on the suspicion of any crime must be brought to court within a reasonable time.

    He said even if the remand order was genuine, it cannot be the basis for detaining the applicants endlessly.

    “A remand order is not issued indefinitely,” he said, adding that the DSS should have applied to a High Court within jurisdiction for a “review” of the remand order.
    “There is no indication that the respondents have filed an application seeking a review of the remand order.”

    He said the remand order exhibited by DSS “has exceeded the reasonable time in the Constitution,” and that “every person has a right to his or her liberty.”

    The judge said it is not allowed in law to arrest and keep a person in detention while an investigation is ongoing.

    “The arrest and detention of a person with a view to getting information is a violation of Section 35 of the Constitution which provides that such a person shall be brought promptly before a court,” he held.

    To him, the applicants were not brought to court within a reasonable time and therefore deserve to enjoy their freedom.

    The judge, therefore, ordered the APC workers’ immediate release from detention, but directed them not to travel out of the country without the court’s permission.

    Justice Yunusa retrained the DSS and the police from further arresting and detaining the applicants until their motion on notice is heard and determined.

    “The point should be clear that there is no criminal matter before me,” the judge added after the bench ruling.

    Before the ruling, Osinbajo said the DSS did not only detain the workers, it denied them access to their relatives even when there was no criminal charge against them.

    He said even if there was a charge, it is still no basis to justify the applicants’ detention for more than a week.

    “The continued violation of their rights should not be allowed to continue,” Osinbajo prayed.

  • APC data centre raid: DSS defies court order

    APC data centre raid: DSS defies court order

    The Department of State Security Services (DSS) yesterday defied an order made by Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court by refusing to produce five detained workers of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The judge on Wednesday barred the DSS from the APC’s data centre which it raided.

    He also ordered it to produce the detained workers – Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Chika Augustine Onochukwu, Ebun Ilori and Esther Enemuwe.

    The judge gave the orders in respect of the case of enforcement of human rights filed by APC’s lawyer, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

    The court ordered that the DSS should unseal the data office/warehouse located at 10, Bola Ajibola Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, forthwith.

    It gave an interim order restraining the respondent (DSS) from further sealing off the office or taking further steps in connection with the property.

    With regard to the five data entry workers being held in custody by the DSS, the court ordered the respondent to produce them in court yesterday to explain to it why they are still being held.

    The court, however, did not give any order regarding the release of the seized equipment, including server and computer.

    But the DSS defied the order, refusing to produce the workers, who will spend the weekend in detention.

    The police was not represented yesterday, but DSS’ lawyer, Peter Okerinmodun, said the agency was unaware of the court’s order.

    This is despite that the applicants’ lawyer provided a proof of service to the agency.

    “My appearance today is from what I read in newspapers. One newspaper said the matter came up at Ikeja (high court),” Okerinmodu said in response to a question from the judge on why he was in court.

    “I made contact with (SSS) headquarters to ascertain the authenticity. They said there was no service on them. Even as at this morning, nobody has confirmed. So I was not briefed,” he said.

    Earlier, Osinbajo said both the police and the DSS were duly served, but the latter refused to accept service at their Lagos office.

    “The first respondent (the  police) we served here (Lagos) and in Abuja. We also served the second respondent (SSS). Pursuant to the orders of this court, same processes were served in Abuja and they were accepted. Proof of service is in the court’s file,” Osinbajo said.

    “The SSS ought to, in obedience of the orders of my lord, produce the five applicants today (yesterday),” he added.

    Okerinmodun sought a short adjournment to enable him “sort out” himself.

    “I want to get across to Abuja to know whether they have been served. We are never known for disobeying my lord’s orders,” said the lawyer.

    Osinbajo expressed reservations at the DSS counsel’s claims, noting that the judge’s orders were unambiguous.