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Tag: sss

  • Boko Haram: Police, SSS, others meet in Ogun

    The police in Ogun State yesterday met with the heads of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday to map out ways to effectively secure lives and property.

    The meeting was held at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran at the instance of the Police Commissioner, Ikemefuna Okoye.

    The agencies resolved to work in synergy to tighten security.

    Also at the meeting were the Comptrollers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the State Traffic Unit (TRACE) and the State Vigilance Service.

  • Court remands self-confessed Boko Haram suspect in custody

    A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered a 24-year old man, Mohammed Isah, to be remanded in custody of the State Security Service following his alleged confession of membership of the Boko Haram sect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused was originally arraigned at the court over a charge of theft.

    During the trial, the accused confessed to being a member of the sect.

    The Magistrate, Theresa Shija, said the accused should be remanded pending the outcome of investigation.

    “This order is made in the overall interest of justice to ensure that the accused does not commit any other offence, so that he is not used by anyone to commit any offence and does not escape from justice until the investigation is completed.”

    The prosecutor, Mr. Collins Terfa, also told the court that “Isah said he is a member of the Boko Haram sect. He said that he was in Benue for no specific reasons but on transit to Bayelsa state.”

    Terfa alleged that one Emmanuel Uchenna of No. 1 Old Lafia Road, North Bank Makurdi, reported the matter.

    The prosecutor said that the accused person, of Gwantu Shangan Local Government Area of Kaduna State, went to his shop and stole a carton of biscuit.

    The prosecution said the offence contravened the Penal Code.

    Terfa further told the court that investigation into the matter was ongoing and needed time to complete it.

    The accused, however, denied the allegation, saying that though he was hungry, he did not steal anything from the shop.

    Shija adjourned the case to April 30 for hearing.

  • SSS wades into Yari’s Abuja property deal

    The State Security Service (SSS) has waded into the dispute between the Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari and a private corporate body, Nestello Gateways Group, over the ownership of an Abuja property.

    The governor is contesting the ownership of the property, which he claimed was sold to him for N200 million in 2010 by a former employee of Nestello Group, Mr. Obinna Kanu, who is on the run.

    The SSS on Monday invited one of the directors of Nestello Group, Mr. Mike Mbanefo, for clarification on certain issues raised in an earlier petition to the agency.

    Mbanefo, who confirmed the invitation to our correspondent yesterday, said he honoured the invitation by the SSS over the petition and was engaged by the legal department of the SSS for about six hours.

    He said: “The SSS operatives were very polite in their approach. From my discussions with them, I found out that they have worked on the petition we submitted to them.

    “I am happy to tell you that my discussion with them was meaningful because after the discussion, they accompanied me to the property to see things for themselves.”

    Justice Jude Okeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in June 2010 ruled that the property, located at 1, Fatai Williams Street, Asokoro, Abuja, be returned to Nestello Group.

    In Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/486/10, Justice Okeke ordered the eviction of Governor Yari from the property. The judge also ordered the governor to pay accumulated rent arrears running into millions of naira.

    The eviction order was executed on May 8 last year, but the governor found his way into the property the next day with his seized personal effects returned to him.

    The court issued a second and third eviction order on the same property, but execution of the order was resisted by armed policemen, ostensibly on the order of the governor.

    Members of the judgment enforcement team from the court reported that they were harassed and manhandled by armed policemen when they went to execute the last eviction order on October 15 last year.

    A report by the leader of the enforcement team, Mallam Abubakar Karofi, dated October 16, 2012 said the policemen had threatened to shoot the officials for attempting to carry out the eviction.

    The report stated inter alia: “Upon our arrival at the residence, we met about eight people, who unknown to us, were mobile policemen, supposedly stationed on the premises.

    “We introduced ourselves and told them our intention, but to our surprise, they said ‘NO’.They said nothing would be enforced; they quickly went inside the house and appeared fully dressed in their mobile police uniform, carrying guns.

    “They stood between us and the building. At that juncture, I called the Director of Litigation, while they also made a few calls.

    “From their conversations, I got a hint that they were given an order not to allow us carry out the enforcement, which was clear from their action; guns were cocked and pointed at us with a threat of being shot if we tried anything.”

    Obviously miffed by the action of the policemen, owners of the property had petitioned the SSS and the National Judicial Council (NJC), accusing certain top officials of the court of complicity in the matter.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Kabiru Sokoto faces terrorism charge

    Kabiru Sokoto faces terrorism charge

    … Arraignment stalled

    The State Security Service (SSS) on Wednesday failed to arraign an alleged Boko Haram member, Kabiru Sokoto before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    This was due to the failure of the prosecution to serve the charge on the accused.

    The court was also amazed when the accused told the court that he does not understand english very well, so would need an interpreter.

    Clad in a brown jalabia and bathroom slippers, Sokoto was brought to the court under a heavy security in a Peugeot 406 with registration number Abuja, BR 867 RSH.

    Specifically, he was accused of withholding information on the plan to bomb St.Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State and failure to disclose it to law enforcement officer as soon as practicable, an offence contrary to Section 7(1) and punishable under Section 33(1) of Terrorism and Prevention Act 2011.

    He was also accused of supporting the act of terrorism by training 500 men and inciting them to commit a terrorist act, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) and punishable under Section 33(1)(b) of Terrorism and Prevention Act 2011.

    The accused allegedly facilitated the commission of terrorist act to wit: by planting and encouraging some boys (now at large) at Mabira Sokoto, in Sokoto State with the intention to bomb the police headquarters and some other government agencies in the state.

    The alleged offence is contrary to Section 15(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under the same Act.

    At resumption, Justice Adeniyi Ademola observed that the charge had not been served on the accused person.

    Prosecution counsel, Chioma Onuegwu prayed the court to allow the accused take his plea, adding that all the other applications would be served on him before the next adjourned date.

     

  • Oyerinde: AGF writes Reps

    Oyerinde: AGF writes Reps

    …Says ‘I was never confused’

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) on Thursday said his office was never confused on investigation into the murder of Oyerinde Olaitan, who was a former Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

    He also said that it is the responsibility of the Nigeria Police to handle investigation into the murder and not the State Security Service (SSS).

    He said the Federal Ministry of Justice has no power to prosecute all suspects arrested in respect of the gruesome killing of Oyerinde.

    Adoke made the clarifications in a February 28, 2013 letter to the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.

    He said: “My attention has been drawn to the representations made by Mr. O.T. Olaitigbe, Deputy Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation on behalf of my office and the Federal Ministry of Justice at the Public Hearing organized by your Committee on February 27, 2013 on the alleged complicity and improper investigation in the murder of Oyerinde Olaitan, an Aide to the Edo State Governor.

    “It has been widely reported in the electronic and print media that Mr. Olaitigbe while making his presentation to the Committee, stated among other things that the Ministry of Justice was confused as a result of the investigation reports it had received from the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service (SSS) which appeared to have indicted different sets of suspects for the alleged murder of Oyerinde and that the ministry could not proceed further with the prosecution of the suspects because of the need to harmonize the two reports .

    “I wish to completely dissociate myself from the comments purportedly made on my behalf by Mr. Olaitigbe as the comments were at best, a figment of his imagination and very far from the truth. Mr. Olaitigbe was under firm instructions to inform the Committee that:

    (a) The Federal Ministry of Justice had examined the powers of the State Security Service as provided by Section 3 of the National Security Act, Cap.N.74 LFN, 2004 and the powers of the Nigeria Police Force as provided by section 4 of the Police Act Cap. P.19 LFN, 2004 and had come to the reasoned conclusion that the power to investigate crimes of the nature under consideration (murder) resides with the Nigeria Police Force while the power to gather intelligence lies with the State Security Service, and

    (b) Murder, the offence allegedly committed by the suspects is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the police in all the States in the Federation. The Criminal Procedure Act, Cap., C. 38 LFN, 2004 is very clear on this matter. The Federal Ministry of Justice therefore has no power to prosecute murder cases as murder is a state offence committed against State law and that the matter was already been handled by appropriate authorities in Edo State.”

     

  • SSS arrests fake Cameroonian doctors in Anambra

    Six suspects who claimed to be specialist Chinese Doctors from Cameroon have been arrested in Anambra state by men of the State Security service (SSS)

    Out of the six suspects, only their leader, Cyrille Muoafo Mekoneng speaks little English Language, while the other five use signs to communicate with their clients

    The state Director of SSS, Alexander Okeiyi, told reporters on Monday in Awka that the suspects had been going to different churches convincing people to patronize them

    Several items including three Health detectors (aka-Quantum magnetic resonance body analyzers) two digital therapy machines and two big bags containing assorted Chinese drugs not registered by (NAFDAC) were recovered from them.

    Others were two dell laptops, one Toshiba laptop, two stethoscopes and one 5ml Hypojent-IV syringe and a forged certificate in general medicine from Shenyang University China.

     

  • Ondo poll: CPC candidate barred from tribunal venue

    Ondo poll: CPC candidate barred from tribunal venue

    Drama ensued at the venue of Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday as men of the State Security Service barred the governorship candidate of Congress for Progressive Change in the state last gubernatorial poll, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo, from entering the court room.

    Ehinlanwo, who led the state executives of the party to the tribunal sitting, was among the four petitioners challenging the victory of the Labour Party Candidate, Dr.Olusegun Mimiko.

    The CPC flagbearer arrived the court premises in time, but was prevented from entering the court room despite identifying himself as CPC governorship candidate who should show his appearance to members of the election panel before the commencement of proceedings.

    This development led to uproar between the SSS and supporters of CPC, who alleged that the security operatives had been selective in their screening, by giving undue advantage to the LP members.

    It took the intervention of some senior officials at the tribunal before Ehinlanwo and the party executives were allowed entry into the court room.

    Speaking with our correspondent shortly after the session, Ehinlanwo, who condemned the attitude of SSS, said he didn’t understand why the security operatives wanted to bar him from the tribunal sitting.

     

  • SSS arrests Boko Haram member in ex-Rep’s house

    SSS arrests Boko Haram member in ex-Rep’s house

    The State Security Service (SSS) has arrested a Boko Haram member, Hassan Pagi Bukar, at the residence of a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tijani Umara Kumalia.

    Bukar is suspected of visiting Abuja to wreak some havoc. The ex-lawmaker was interrogated by the SSS on Friday.

    He denied having any link with Boko Haram.

    Investigation revealed that the suspect,who has been on the wanted list of security agencies,was arrested at the residence of the ex-lawmaker in Gwarinpa District of Abuja following a tip-off by some people.

    A source said of the suspect’s arrest: “ He has been operating in some cells of Boko Haram in Maiduguri and Damaturu. We have been looking for him in the last few months.

    “Some of the intelligence reports on him had indicated that he used to source vehicles for Boko Haram for suicide missions.

    “We got a tip-off that Bukar had sneaked into Abuja on Thursday for a purpose which we strongly suspected was to drop some bomb explosives. Based on intelligence gathering, we took pre-emptive steps and arrested him at the home of the ex-lawmaker.

    “He is with the SSS where he is currently undergoing interrogation. We also quizzed the ex-lawmaker on Friday.”

    Continuing the source said: “We are probing clues that Bukar’s brief is to receive hijacked or sourced vehicles from top Boko Haram members, including one Babawo and another called SENIOR and other leaders that are prime targets of security agents.

    “Bukar was arrested in the Abuja residence of one Hon. Tijani Umara Kumalia, a 2003-2007 member of the House of Representatives.

    “The suspect was picked up with Kumalia’s gateman whom the ex-Rep claimed was employed from Sokoto to guard the house.

    “On interrogation, Bukar admitted to his role in the sect.

    The source said: “Though Kumaila is not being detained, he is now reporting at scheduled periods to SSS.

    “Security agents have since established that almost all vehicles used for suicide bombings by the sect are sourced in one suspicious way or the other.”

    The Joint Task Force in the North-East is currently on the trail of the 19 leaders, who were declared wanted in November last year.

    A source said: “We are still searching for them; we have not been able to locate any. But with the collaboration of all security agencies, we will succeed.

    “We are also working round the clock to protect lives and property in the zone.”

    The JTF’s list comprised five members of the Shurra Committee (the highest making body of the sect) and 19 Boko Haram commanders.

    Those affected are five members of the Shurra Committee of the sect including, Imam Abubakar Shekau (N50million); Habibu Yusuf (a.k.a Asalafi) N25million; Khalid Albarnawai ( N25million); Momodu Bama (N25 million); and Mohammed Zangina (N25million)

    The Boko Haram Commanders are Abu Saad (N10million); Abba Kaka (N10million); Abdulmalik Bama (N10million) Umar Fulata(N10million); Alhaji Mustapha (Massa) Ibrahim (N10million); Abubakar Suleiman-Habu (a.k.a Khalid) N10million; Hassan Jazair N10million; Ali Jalingo (N10million); Alhaji Musa Modu (N10million); Bashir Aketa (N10million); Abba Goroma (N10million); Ibrahim Bashir (N10million); Abubakar Zakariya (N10million); and Tukur Ahmed Mohammed (N10million).

     

  • Ndume had contact with Boko Haram member – SSS

    Ndume had contact with Boko Haram member – SSS

     

    The State Security Service on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Sen. Ali Ndume’s call log showed that he communicated with Mohammed Konduga (a convict) 73 times, in a month.

    Ndume is standing trial for alleged link with the Boko Haram Sect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Konduga, who was alleged to be a former spokesman of the sect, is currently serving a three year jail term, after he pleaded guilty to the charges, filed by the SSS.

    Ndume had insisted that his link with the group was necessitated by his membership of the Presidential Committee to restore peace in the troubled North East of the country.

    At the resumed hearing of the case, Mr. Aliyu Usman, a forensic expert with the SSS, while giving evidence said the history of the communication contacts was contained in the two moblie telephones obtained from Ndume and Konduga.

    Usman said the communication between the two persons took place between October 3, 2011 and November 3, 2011, adding that they were inform of SMS and voices.

    He said the data extracted from the two mobile phones were subjected to forensic analysis, adding that the results were stored in three copies of DVDs.

    Usman said the two mobile phones used MTN lines, adding that the details of the communication were obtained from the network.

    When the prosecution counsel, Mr. Thompson Olatigbe sought to tender the three DVDs as evidence, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), counsel to Ndume objected it.

    Tarfa argued that the items being secondary evidence should have been accompanied by a statement.

    He submitted that the items did not qualify to be admitted, and that the move was a violation of the Evidence Act.

    Tarfa said the evidence neither carried the signature of the witness nor any form of identification to show its originality.

    He further submitted that the evidence sought to be tendered lacked the description of the maker and certification to show its source.

     

  • More knocks for SSS over assault on The Nation reporter

    The furore over the assault on The Nation reporter, Kazeem Ibrahim, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) is far from over.

    The Committee to Protect Journalists urged the Federal Government to investigate the incident.

    Three SSS operatives beat up Ibrahim at the Akwa Ibom State Government House, when he tried to cover Governor Godswill Akpabio’s 50th birthday celebration.

    “We are deeply disturbed by the savage assault on Kazeem Ibrahim and call on the SSS to investigate and bring to account everyone responsible,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita in New York.

    “Journalists must be allowed to cover public events without fear for their safety.”

    SSS Spokesperson Marilyn Ogar did not respond to CPJ’s calls and a text message seeking comment.

    Journalists have been repeatedly assaulted in the state. On June 9, during the local government election, a senior police officer ordered his men to beat up a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reporter and the editor of News Net, an Akwa Ibom tabloid.

    On March 8, a reporter with a local tabloid was assaulted by police officers during a protest by community youth against a Chinese oil company.

    A Punch reporter was assaulted and sent out of the state’s High Court at an event marking the new legal year in September.