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  • SSS not interested in arresting anyone over shadow government, says lawyer

    SSS not interested in arresting anyone over shadow government, says lawyer

    The State Security Service (SSS) is not interested in arresting anyone over the shadow government being proposed by a group led by the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Patrick Okedinachi Utomi (also known as Prof. Pat Utomi).

    Lead lawyer to the SSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) said this on Wednesday shortly after filing a fresh application for before the Federal High Court in Abuja for an interlocutory injunction restraining Utomi from from further making public comments or engaging in rallies in relation to the subject of a suit pending against him over his announced plan to establish a shadow government in the country.

    Kehinde, who spoke with journalists, said: “Our client is not interested at arresting anybody in respect of this matter, having on its own accord submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the honourable court to interpret the Constitution and determine the legality or otherwise of the “shadow government” or any other nomenclature that it may be so named.

    “It must be pointed out that our client, under its current leadership, is a very civilized organization with absolute confidence in the rule of law and that is why, it or any of its personnel will always approach the court of law whenever it feels that there is any infraction on its statutory duties by anyone or the rights of its personnel like the case instituted against SERAP by some of its personnel is being compromised. Let the court have the final say.

    “Gentlemen, we must all ensure that constitutional democracy and the rule of law have its way in Nigeria.

    “It is good that as members of the 4th estate of the realm you are keeping watch over the case filed against the formation of “Shadow Government” by Prof. Pat Utomi and his group.

    “The civil suit, as you are aware, was filed by the State Security Service (SSS) in consonance with its statutory mandate of ensuring internal peace and avoidance of any form of insurrection and treasonable felony against the democratically elected government in the country.

    “We, as counsel to the SSS have just filed an application seeking interlocutory injunction against the defendant and his group pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    “The application being a public document can be obtained from the registry of the Honourable court.

    Read Also: SAN to IG: lawyer didn’t forge my letterhead

    “The application is premised on the fact that despite the pendency of the substantive action, the service of same on the defendant and the entry of appearance to same by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the defendant has continued to make inflammatory statements capable of igniting chaos in the country instead of abiding by the hallowed principle that civilized parties before the court are expected to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive matter.

    “What our client has submitted to the court is for the interpretation of the Constitution, whether any form of government by whatever nomenclature can be formed or allowed outside the Constitution,” Kehinde said.

    The new application seeks mainly, “an order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the defendant/respondent (Utomi), his agents, privies, associates, servants, workers or any person acting through him from staging road shows, rallies, public lectures or any form of public gathering, newspaper publications, television programs, jingles or any other public enlightenment programme (s) aimed at sensitizing, instigating, propagating or in any way promoting the purported “shadow government/shadow cabinet” or its objectives or goals with the view to establishing the said “shadow government” pending the hearing and determination of this substantive suit.”

    The grounds for the application include that, if not restrained, Utomi’s proposed rallies, road shows and actions “constitute a serious threat to the public order, safety and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “

    The SSS added that as the agency statutorily empowered to safeguard the internal security of the country and prevent any threats to the lawful authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constituent institutions, it was incumbent on it to forestall any threat to public order, safety and national unity.

    It stated that before it filed the substantive suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025 Utomi had,  through public statements, social media and other platforms engaged in statements and actions aimed at undermining the outcome of the case now pending  before the court, and which he is aware of.

    The SSS said it gathered through monitoring and intelligence reports that Utomi, who is currently out of the country and is due to return on June 6 plans “to stage road shows and rallies under the guise of freedom of speech and association in a bid to cause public discontent in furtherance of his establishment of the purported ‘shadow government/shadow cabinet.’

    The plaintiff added, in a supporting affidavit, that Utomi’s intention “is to stage road shows and rallies that are capable of drawing a large number of Nigerians with intent that will cause huge disruption of peace, breakdown of public order, enable riots and violent protests just as the recent “End SARS” protests in 2020.

    “All the planned protests, riots and agitations that will ensue, if the purported actions of the defendant/respondent are not stayed, may lead to mayhem with a potential for anarchy, loss of lives and property.

    “The proposed allies, road shows and actions of the Defendant/Respondent constitute a serious threat to the public order, safety and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The SSS stated that on May 26, during the fourth edition of the Topaz Lecture Series, themed “Shadow Government: A Distraction or Necessity”, hosted by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Mass Communication Class of 1988 Alumni Association, Utomi made statements, capable of undermining the pending suit.

    It added that the statements, widely publicised by various national newspapers and on social media platforms, Utomi defended the creation of the purported shadow government and further stated that if the suit succeeds in favour of the SSS, he and his group shall adopt a different name.

    The SSS added that Utomi “has been served with the originating process in this suit and has entered appearance vide his Counsel Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) since 20 May, 2025.

    “The defendant/respondent (Utomi) is aware of the pendency of this action before this Honourable Court as he has been served with the originating process in this suit by courier as ordered by this Honourable Court.

    “Unless this honourable court intervenes by granting this application, the defendant/respondent’s acts may foist a fait accompli on the court.

    “It is in the interest of justice, national security, and the rule of law for this honourable court to grant this application,” the SSS said. 

  • Reports on scrapping JSS, SSS not true – FG

    Reports on scrapping JSS, SSS not true – FG

    The Ministry of Education on Friday clarified that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, merely proposed the introduction of a 12-year basic education system.

    The ministry stated that reports of an immediate policy change on the matter were untrue.

    In a statement by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry emphasised that the National Council on Education would review the proposal before any final decision is made.

    “At the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting held on 6 February 2025 in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, presented a proposal for discussion — not an immediate policy change. The proposal seeks to transition to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.

    Read Also: Reports on scrapping JSS, SSS not true – FG

    “A key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing students to progress seamlessly without external assessments at that stage. However, this remains subject to further consultation and deliberation.

    “To ensure a well-informed decision, the ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months, consulting education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players. The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.

    “The ministry urges the public to disregard false claims that JSS and SSS have been scrapped. The Federal Government remains committed to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.”

  • Kano deputy Gov. petitions Police over alleged threat to life

    Barely 24 hours after the dramatic impeachment of the Kano State Speaker, Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the State’s Deputy Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, last night alleged threat to his life, as well as plans to impeach him.

    Also, the Deputy Chairman of Gabasawa Local Government, Hassan Wiazi Gabasawa, last night confirmed that he has dumped the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Apart from that, he said he has resigned as the Deputy Chairman of the Local Government, adding that the action was to enable him to fully pitch his tent, with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who recently dumped the APC for the (PDP).

    To this end, Professor Hafiz Abubakar has petitioned the Police and the State Security Service (SSS), over what he described as threat to his life, as well as plans to impeach him.

    In the petition, addressed to the Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, copied to the Assistant Inspector-General in Charge of Zone One and the State Director of SSS, the Deputy Governor, prayed for the deployment of a lot more Security operatives around him.

    Among others, he accused the State Government of disbursing funds to mobilize youths from the 44 Local Government Areas of the State to protest against his continued stay in office, without either resigning or face impeachment.

    A loyalist to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Deputy Governor has for quite some time being at loggerheads, with the State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for pitching his tent, with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the political impasse in the State.

    Read Also: Kano Speaker impeached

    In another development, a one-time Kano State Governor and the former Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said he and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have resolved their differences, so as to collaborate, toward actualizing victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.

    Besides confirming the resolution of his age-long dispute, with Kwankwaso, he also confirmed his widely reported closed door meeting, with Kwankwaso, assuring his preparedness to partner, with the latter, who recently decamped from the ruling party to the PDP.

    He urged party members in the State to always exercise patience, as well as cooperate, with the party leaders, so as to actualize his ambition of winning the 2019 General election.

    Similarly, the PDP in Kano has dismissed reports, insinuating that the Presidency and the leadership of the APC are lobbying the former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau to the ruling party, so as to weaken the influence of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2019 General elections.

    In his reaction to the development, the spokesman of the PDP in Kano, Alhaji Musa Dan Birini, described the report, as not only misleading but mischievous.

    According to him, Malam Shekarau has his both feet in the PDP, stressing that he has no intention of joining any political party.

    ”It is false, as it is a rumour created by someone. We are going to probe and find out, who concocted the report because Sarduana of Kano is still, with the PDP, alongside all his supporters in Kano. So, we are not happy, with the fake news been circulated in Kano. We will reject it. At this juncture, I am call calling on members of the public to always confirm their source of information, so as not rely on mischievous news.”

    Reacting to the envisaged looming crisis between Shekarau and Senator Kwankwaso, over who owns the control of the PDP structure in Kano State, the Spokesman said, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali remains the leader of the party.

    He allegedly described the APC-led Government as an empty Government and to democracy, emphasizing that the party lacks the capacity to win the 2019 General elections, considering the current challenges of lack of employment opportunities and insecurity.

    ”Our PDP leader is Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, as everybody knows that he is a well known leader. The decision of who would be the leader between Shekarau and Kwankwaso is still pending but what is more important is that we want the movement to continue, as they are both leaders to us. Our priority for now is to take over Government in 2019 from the undemocratic party that has failed to add value to human life in the country. We will ensure that democracy stands as it was in 1999.”

    Meanwhile, the just impeached Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata has accepted his impeachment in good fate, saying it was premeditated by God Almighty.

    According to Ata, the allegations against him were far from the truth, describing them as malicious, purposely fabricated, so as to tarnish his image.

    ”I have been doing everything humanly possible to give a sense of belonging to the entire members of the House, including the Kwankwasiyya group members, including the only PDP lawmaker in the House. He challenged all those, who accused him of embezzlement to explain to the general public how the offence was committed.

    However, he said he is convinced that the unfolding development at the House was divinely predetermined by the Supreme Creator and therefore accepting the outcome in good fate, and wished the new leadership well in their endeavour to take the House to another level.

  • Group to SSS, EFCC: Invite Orbih to prove IDP rice allegation

    Group to SSS, EFCC: Invite Orbih to prove IDP rice allegation

    Members of Concerned Citizens of Edo State (CCES), a non-governmental organisation, have called on the Nigeria Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS) to invite Dan Orbih, chairman, Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for proof of his allegation that the Edo State government diverted bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced (Persons IDPs).

    President of the association, Mr Ogbewi Aghedo, said that “There are several dimensions to this allegation. The credibility of the Edo State government has been called to question by the allegation. The Edo State PDP chairman has also by that comment, accused the state government of criminal diversion of the relief materials approved for internally displaced persons and yet another diversion is the indictment of a Senator from Ondo State, whose name was not given by Orbih.

    “You will agree with me that these are weighty allegations and cannot be equated with mere politicking. These alleged crimes fall within the purview of the police, the EFCC and the SSS and the recorded audio interview of Dan Orbih on Independent Radio is sufficient material for preliminary investigation by these security agencies.”

    Aghedo said its members are aware that the state government has petitioned the state commissioner of police. “This a step in the right direction. The allegation is an attack on the integrity of the state government and it is only proper for the state to rise up to the occasion and demand proof.”

    The allegation, according to Aghedo, “is equivalent to whistle blowing and as you are aware, when you have your facts and proof, the federal government will reward you for blowing the whistle, but if you blow a false whistle, we all know the implication.”

    He added that as a stakeholder in the nation’s democracy project, its activities includes identifying actions and inactions that pose threat to the lives of the ordinary Edo people and Nigerians alike, defend them against obnoxious policies and laws and defend pro-people policies and programmes, amongst others.

    Edo PDP chairman alleged on a live radio programme on Thursday in Benin City, that over 300 bags of rice approved for internally displaced persons were diverted by the Edo State government to the house of an Ondo State Senator.

    Orbih was quoted as saying on the Independent Radio pidgin English programme, Man Around Town: “This thing no be matter Edwey them take debate. Them carry this rice go give one Senator for Ondo, that one na Internally displaced person? We get record for how them take share this rice among themselves.

    “Them carry this rice on a Sunday go one house before By-pass. On a Sunday, because make people no see wetin them dey do. We have all these records. We know the movements. We know what they were doing. I was just watching them to see whether these people get heart.”

  • 2015 polls: Kwara police, army, SSS, INEC, others shared in $115m ‘Diezani bribe’, says witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard how several individuals and public officials shared in an alleged bribe of $115 million paid by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general election.

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) named the officials yesterday during the trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Dele Belgore, before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.

    In two documents it tendered before the court, the anti-graft agency said the individuals and public officials benefited from N450 million and N155,220,000 out of the $115 million (about N36 billion) Diezani cash.

    The disbursements, which the EFCC claimed were bribes, were contained in a document titled, “Security and transportation per state”, and another one titled, “Kwara State”.

    According to the first document, the Resident Assistant Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Kwara State at the time got N1 million cash and the Commissioner of Police (COP) in Kwara State at the time received N10 million cash. The Deputy COP in charge of Operations got N2 million cash.

    Also, the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of operations and administration in Kwara State, received N1 million cash each.

    The document also showed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State for the 2015 general elections got N10 million cash. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State at the time received N5 million cash.

    The document added that INEC’s Head of Department, Operations and “his boys” were given N5 million. Other officers received and shared N2 million among themselves.

    Also listed as beneficiaries of the alleged bribe in the state were the “OC Mopol” and “his men”, who got N7 million, “2iC Mopol” and men in the state, who got N10 million; the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and his men, who got N2.5 million.

    The military in Kwara State was bribed with N50 million, according to the document, while other security agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) got N20 million..

    An EFCC investigator, Usman Zakari, who brought the document, told the court that it was recovered from Belgore.

    Belgore is accused of collecting N450 million from Diezani and distributing same to beneficiaries in Kwara State.

    The EFCC said he handled the cash without going through any financial institution, contrary to sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    According to the commission, the offence is punishable under sections 15(3)(4), and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Standing trial along with Belgore for the offence is a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

    The SAN and the don were arraigned on charges of money laundering on February 8, 2017 and they pleaded not guilty.

    Zakari is the second witness to be called by the EFCC in its efforts to prove its case.

    Testifying before Justice Aikawa yesterday, the witness explained that Belgore volunteered the list to the EFCC when he was invited and interrogated by the anti-graft agency.

    The investigator noted that Belgore’s endorsement on the document, stating: “document supplied by me, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).”

    The second document the EFCC said it recovered from Belgore, also showed beneficiaries of a sum of N155,220,000 and the breakdown of what they got.

    Among them were 15 electoral officers who each received, 250,000; 15 supervisors, who got N100,000 each; state Returning Officers who got N1m, among others.

    The two documents were tendered by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo. They were admitted in evidence as Exhibit 7 and 7A, against Belgore and Suleiman, as their lawyers, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Mr. Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), raised no objection.

    In his evidence, Zakari told the court that the EFCC’s findings showed that the money was disbursed in cash to the beneficiaries.

    “My lord, the mode of payment, as contained in Exhibit 7, is cash payment. The payments were not done through any financial institution,” Zakari said.

    Justice Aikawa also entertained Belgore’s application seeking the dismissal of the charges on the grounds that the EFCC failed to attach an affidavit showing that it had concluded investigation in the case before bringing the case to court.

    But in opposition, the EFCC lawyer argued that the current law governing criminal cases in the country, was the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    He argued that the ACJA did not list filing of the said affidavit as one of the conditions that must be fulfilled before a criminal charge could be filed in court, stressing that the provisions of the ACJA were superior to that of the Federal High Court Practice Direction.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned till July 7 for ruling.

  • How Police, Army, SSS, INEC, others shared in $115m ‘Diezani bribe’ – Witness

    How Police, Army, SSS, INEC, others shared in $115m ‘Diezani bribe’ – Witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday heard how several individuals and public officials shared in an alleged bribe of $115m paid by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general election.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) named the officials Thursday during the trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Dele Belgore before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.

    In two documents it tendered before the court, the anti-graft agency said the persons benefited from N450 million and N155, 220,000 out of the $115m (about N36 billion) Diezani cash.

    The disbursements, which the EFCC claimed were bribes, were contained in a document titled, “Security and Transportation per State”, and another one titled, “Kwara State”.

    According to the first document, the Resident Assistant Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Kwara State at the time got N1 million cash, the Commissioner of Police (COP) in Kwara State at the time received N10m cash, while the Deputy COP in charge of Operations got N2 million cash.

    Also, the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of operations and administration in Kwara State, received N1 million cash each.

    The document also showed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State for the 2015 general elections got N10 million cash, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State at the time received N5 million cash.

    According to the document, INEC’s Head of Department, Operations and “his boys” were given N5m, while “other officers” received and shared N2m among themselves.

    Also listed as beneficiaries of the alleged bribe in Kwara State were the “OC Mopol” and “his men”, who got N7 million, “2iC Mopol” and men in the state, who got N10m; the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and his men, who got N2.5m.

    The military in Kwara State was bribed with N50m, according to the document, while other security agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) got N20m..

    An EFCC investigator Usman Zakari, who brought the document, told the court that it was recovered from Belgore.

    Belgore is accused of collecting N450m from Diezani and distributing same to beneficiaries in Kwara State.

    The EFCC said he handled the cash without going through any financial institution, contrary to sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    According to the commission, the offence is punishable under sections 15(3)(4), and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Standing trial along with Belgore for the offence is a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

    The SAN and the don were arraigned on charges of money laundering on February 8, 2017 but they pleaded not guilty.

    Zakari is the second witness to be called by the EFCC in its efforts to prove its case.

    Testifying before Justice Aikawa on Thursday, the witness explained that Belgore volunteered the list to the EFCC when he was invited and interrogated by the anti-graft agency.

    The investigator pointed out Belgore’s endorsement on the document, stating: “document supplied by me, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).”

    The second document the EFCC said it recovered from Belgore, also showed showed beneficiaries of a sum of N155, 220,000 and the breakdown of what they got.

    Among them were 15 electoral officers who each received, 250,000; 15 supervisors, who got N100, 000 each; state Returning Officers who got N1m, among others.

    The two documents were tendered by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and admitted in evidence as Exhibit 7 and 7A, against Belgore and Suleiman, as their lawyers, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Mr. Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), raised no objection.

    In his evidence, Zakari told the court that the EFCC’s findings showed that the money was disbursed in cash to the beneficiaries.

    “My Lord, the mode of payment, as contained in Exhibit 7, is cash payment. The payments were not done through any financial institution,” Zakari said.

    Meanwhile, Justice Aikawa entertained Belgore’s application seeking the dismissal of the charges on the grounds that the EFCC failed to attach an affidavit showing that it had concluded investigation in the case before bringing the case to court.

    Moving the application on Thursday, Belgore’s lawyer, Shofunde, argued that the failure of the EFCC to attach an affidavit saying it had concluded investigation before filing the charges was a fundamental breach of the Federal High Court Practice Direction and which had rendered the charges incompetent.

    He urged Justice Aikawa to quash the charges and free his client.

    But in opposition, the EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo, argued that the current law governing criminal cases in the country was the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    He argued that the ACJA did not list filling of the said affidavit as one of the conditions that must be fulfilled before a criminal charge could be filed in court, stressing that the provisions of the ACJA were superior to that of the Federal High Court Practice Direction.

    Besides, he referred Justice Aikawa to Section 221 of the ACJA which barred a judge from entertaining any application challenging the competence of charges in a criminal case in the middle of trial and Section 396(2) of the Act, which barred a judge from ruling on any such application until judgment is delivered in the case.

    While urging the judge to dismiss the application, Oyedepo said granting it would “amount to slaughtering justice on the altar of technicality.”

    Justice Aikawa adjourned till July 7 for ruling.

     

  • DSS arrests Ifeanyi Uba over N11b fuel ‘theft’

    DSS arrests Ifeanyi Uba over N11b fuel ‘theft’

    The State Security Service (SSS) has arrested the managing director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, over alleged “economic sabotage”.

    It said Ubah was detained in connection with missing petroleum products.

    “The arrest was sequel to Ubah’s engagement in acts of economic sabotage which include stealing, diversion and illegal sale of petroleum products stored in his tank farm by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),” the SSS said in a statement yesterday.

    “So far, it has been established that the products stolen amount to over N11bn.

    “There is no doubt that Ubah’s acts have the capacity to negatively impact on national economy.”

    The fuel products, belonging to NNPC Retail, which was stored in the Capital Oil’s storage facilities in Lagos under a throughput arrangement, went missing under controversial circumstances.

    In March, the Capital Oil and Gas boss reportedly visited the SSS office in Abuja, where he was held for days.

    The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, MaikantiBaru, had said the corporation was committed to using all measures to fully recover the full value of the missing products.

    Last month, four top NNPC officials were retired over the scandal.

    In a statementby Tony Opuiyo, the SSS saidUbah had further engaged “in other activities inimical to national security and public order”.

    “In furtherance of his gimmicks to undermine the government and people of Nigeria, he has incited members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the Petroleum Industry, to refuse/stop the lifting of products,” it said.

    “This is part of his plans to curry their sentiments and cause them to embark on strike and also stage protests in his favour with the ulterior motive of arm-twisting the NNPC to abandon the cause of recovering the stolen products.

    “The implication of this on law and order is, in fact, a common knowledge. It is consequent upon this that the Service arrested and will prosecute him forthwith.”

  • Finally, axe falls on Marilyn Ogar

    Finally, axe falls on Marilyn Ogar

    It may not have been done with the finesse expected of the Buhari government, but the compulsory retirement of former State Security Service (SSS) spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, and some forty others, was long expected. How that retirement was procured, given the need to build a professional, non-partisan security organisation, may also be controversial, however, no one disputes the fact that the secret service under President Goodluck Jonathan had become so heavily compromised and politicised. Whether the ongoing restructuring in the service will reposition the SSS as a non-partisan, efficient and professional organisation remains to be seen.

    There is little doubt the SSS was poorly led, thus reflecting badly on the Jonathan government, the SSS leadership, and staff of the secret service whose character and judgement were called into question. Ms Ogar was, sadly, the public face of that appalling decline, and the archetype of the service’s misguided operations and loss of dignity and integrity. The former spokesperson is thought to have been retired over allegations of corruption and excessive partisanship. A panel headed by a director in the service had been set up to look into the allegations, and it reportedly found Ms Ogar guilty. She has refused to give her own side of the story.

    According to reports, shortly before the Osun governorship poll, Ms Ogar was allegedly allocated 10 trucks of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) by an NNPC subsidiary, the Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC), valued at some N15 million. It was further alleged that it amounted to rewarding her loyalty to the cause of the PDP. All she did, it was reported, was to just sign in on the deal while three marketers/dealers did all the hard work and delivered the cash proceeds to her. While Ms Ogar has kept mum on the deal, and the complete veracity of the allegations remains in the realm of media reports and the files of the SSS, there was no confusion over her partisan role in the last polls, far beyond the call of duty. That partisanship was enough to hang her and ruin her career, some seven years before she was due to retire.

    Soon after the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the presidential poll, an outcome Ms Ogar and the service fought bravely but hopelessly to prevent, she became the focus of everything that went bad with the SSS. Not only was her promotion, which was awarded in the twilight of the Jonathan presidency, reversed, she was reportedly punitively posted to Borno State, the epicenter of the Boko Haram revolt. After her kinsmen wailed publicly that she was being persecuted, the posting was reversed, while the promotion stood cancelled. Her argument and that of her supporters was that the APC, through the new Director-General of the SSS, Lawal Daura, was pursuing vendetta against her and those who did nothing but merely carry out lawful orders.

    Her argument spawned a flurry of debates on whether her role as spokesperson was carried out strictly within the bounds of commonsense and service regulations. Two examples illustrate the controversy. When SSS operatives invaded an APC data centre in Lagos, an act many saw as persecution or intimidation of the opposition, Ms Ogar was florid in describing what she termed the subversive tendencies of the opposition. She went on to make many unsubstantiated, contradictory and technologically ignorant accusations. It was clear that the invasion could not be defended, nor did she or the service take any step to prove their allegations. They simply damned the consequences.

    Shortly before and during the Osun governorship poll of August 2014, Ms Ogar spoke effusively of the subversion she claimed the APC was plotting in Osun, defended the atrocious and unconstitutional actions of the SSS, and alleged again without substantiation that the APC offered bribes totalling some N14m to SSS operatives. In this and a few other cases, Ms Ogar seemed dedicated to pulling down the APC and turning the service, like the military brass also did to the military in the run-up to the general elections, into an arm of the Jonathan presidency. Her actions were indefensible, nor has she tried to even defend them beyond the flimsy assertion that she was simply obeying orders as a dutiful public servant. Even though the fault was not just her own, she and her bosses did their utmost to damage the reputation and professionalism of the secret service. It will take years to purge the service of the filth and the morass swaddling still it.

    As the new SSS helmsmen purge and reposition the secret service, Nigerians will hope that they have learnt from the mistakes of their predecessors, especially from Ms Ogar’s unflattering acts of servility. The objectives of the new SSS leaders are undeniably sound. But given the treatment meted out to President Buhari’s former Chief Security Officer (CSO), Abdulrahman Mani, and the controversial manner they interrogated Dr Jonathan’s former CSO, Gordon Obuah, not to talk of the brusque manner the former National Security Adviser (NSA) was treated, the service may be more enthusiastic than methodical. They will need to realign and retune their methods within the parameters of civilised and professional conduct if their efforts are not to miscarry sooner or later, and if in turn they are not to open themselves up for future retribution from their own successors. For Ms Ogar, however, an officer lacking in wisdom and moderation, it is difficult to be pained by her unceremonious exit.

     

  • SSS, STF comb Unijos for cultists

    SSS, STF comb Unijos for cultists

    •25 students arrested

    The Plateau State Department of State Services (DSS) and the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis code- named ‘Operation Safe Haven’, yesterday raided the hostels of the University of Jos in search of cultists.

    The combined team of security agencies also combed the hostels of the Federal College of Forestry, Jos.

    STF spokesman Capt. Ikedichi Iweha said: “In the raid carried out early this morning, we arrested 25 suspected cultists. We have screened them. Those found innocent have been released. But we have detained those found guilty.

    “The screening is ongoing and the combing of hostels will be a continuous exercise until we rid schools of cultists.

    “The raiding is at the instance of school managements. The institutions must have noticed the rising cases of cultism. Our action is yielding results.

    “Everybody is aware of the increasing cases of cultism, especially in higher institutions. There is need to curb the activities of cultists before it is too late.”

     

  • Security challenge: SSS vows to secure Abuja

    Security challenge: SSS vows to secure Abuja

    Director of State Security Service (SSS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam‎ Bello Bakori has vowed to ensure that Abuja is free from any security breaches by providing adequate intelligence.

    Bakori promised that the SSS will continue to provide ‎sufficient intelligence to assist the FCT Administration deliver good governance to the people.

    He stated this Wednesday in Abuja, during a courtesy visit to the FCT Permanent Secretary Engr. 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.”

    Engr. Chukwu called on synergy between all security agencies operating in the FCT‎, 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 organizations, since we are all working for the government and for the common good of the people.”