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Tag: dss

  • DSS arrests officials for diverting palliatives

    DSS arrests officials for diverting palliatives

    The Department of State Services (DSS) said it has arrested some officials of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) and their accomplices over alleged palliatives diversion.

    The Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Afunanya said that the service had received complaints from some states relating to diversion and sale of palliatives meant for their citizens

    “Consequently, the Service undertook investigations in that regard and has recovered some of the items as well as apprehended the suspects.

    “While this operation is ongoing in other states, the Service has for instance, intercepted a suspected criminal syndicate in Nasarawa State responsible for the diversion and sale of the palliative.

    “Among those suspects are officials of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) and their accomplices in the markets, notably Modern Market Lafia, where the items were being resold,” he said.

    The DSS spokesman said the suspects had been handed over for appropriate disciplinary measures.

    He urged members of the public with information relating to palliatives diversion to report to relevant security agencies for necessary action.

  • Finally, DSS frees embattled Ogun council chairman

    Finally, DSS frees embattled Ogun council chairman

    The Department of State Security Service, (DSS) has released the suspended Chairman of Ogun East Local Government, Wale Adedayo.

    Adedayo had dragged Gov. Dapo Abiodun before the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) demanding the investigation of the governor over alleged mismanagement of local government funds.

    Adedayo who was also suspended by the council’s legislative house, accused Gov Abiodun of withholding the statutory Federal Allocation due to the state’s local governments since 2021.

    Following the development, the DSS invited Adedayo for interrogation and when he turned up for the invitation on Friday, he was asked to respond to the petition submitted to the Command by the state government.

    It was gathered that part of the petition was that Adedayo was instigating widespread acts of public disturbance and chaos in Ijebu East local government.

    The embattled council boss had denied the allegation of instigating acts of public disturbance but the State Security Service decided to detain him due to his refusal to withdraw the allegation leveled against Gov Abiodun.

    His incarceration led to various groups and Human rights Lawyer, Femi Falana calling for his release.

  • DSS uncovers plot of violent protest across Nigeria

    DSS uncovers plot of violent protest across Nigeria

    The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has uncovered a plot by some elements to embark on violent protests across the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya on Monday.

    Read the statement below:

    “The DSS hereby informs the public that it has uncovered plans by some elements in parts of the country to stage violent protests in order to discredit the Federal Government and security agencies over sundry socio-economic matters.

    “Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic based associations, youth and disgruntled groups for the planned action.

    “Meanwhile, the Service has identified the ring leaders of the plot as well as sustained monitoring around them in order to deter them from plunging the country into anarchy.

    “In view of this development, University Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Tertiary Institutions are advised to discourage their students from engaging in acts capable of derailing public peace.

    “Also, parents and guardians are enjoined to admonish their children and wards respectively to shun the lure of participating in inimical behaviours or conducts against law and order.

    “While the DSS is aware of Government’s efforts and determination to resolve some of the challenges confronting the nation, it warns those desirous of subverting national security to retrace their steps. This is more so that it will not hesitate to legally come against persons and groups behind the devious plans”.

  • Alleged diversion: Release suspended Ogun LG Chairman- Falana tells DSS

    Alleged diversion: Release suspended Ogun LG Chairman- Falana tells DSS

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to release detained suspended Chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government in Ogun State, Wale Adedayo.

    Last week, the council chairman had accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting the statutory allocations of the 20 local governments in the state.

    He was subsequently suspended for three months on allegations of maladministration and financial mismanagement by the seven out of the 11 councilors that made up the local government legislative council.

    In a statement on Sunday, Falana said Adedayo was invited to the Ogun State Command of the secret police on Friday.

    “However, when he (Adedayo) turned up for the invitation on 1st September 2023, he was asked to respond to the petition submitted to the Command by the State Government,” the senior lawyer said.

    “In the said petition, it was alleged that Mr. Adedayo had instigated widespread acts of public disturbance and chaos in Ijebu East Local Government. Even though the embattled Council boss denied the allegation of instigating acts of public disturbance, the State Security Service has decided to detain him due to his refusal to withdraw the allegation levelled against Governor Abiodun.”

    Falana said though the Ogun State Government has denied the allegation of funds diversion, the governor should sue Adedayo for libel in the Ogun State High Court.

    “Having regards to the facts and circumstances of this particular case, I am compelled to request the Ogun State Command of the SSS to release Mr. Adedayo from custody forthwith,” he said.

     

  • Just In: Emefiele’s siblings withdraw case against AGF, DSS

    Just In: Emefiele’s siblings withdraw case against AGF, DSS

    Justice E Okpe of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has struck out a joint case against the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by Emefiele‘s siblings, George and Okanta.

    This followed the withdrawal of the case by two after filling a notice of discountenance of the case.

    The Emefiele siblings took the AGF and the DSS to court over the infringement on their fundamental human rights on account of issues surrounding the embattled suspended CBN governor.

    The AGF and the DSS did not oppose the withdrawal of the case.

    Details later….

  • DSS arrests NIRSAL boss for ‘conspiring with Emefiele’ to loot printing and minting firm

    DSS arrests NIRSAL boss for ‘conspiring with Emefiele’ to loot printing and minting firm

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Abbas Umar Masanawa, the chief executive officer of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), for his alleged role in the ongoing corruption probe of Godwin Emefiele, the ousted governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    It was learnt that Masanawa was taken into custody three weeks ago and has remained there while an investigation into the allegation is underway.

    Masanawa’s arrest stemmed from his role as the managing director of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).

    He resigned from NSPMC after it was reported that he was seeking a governorship election as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while still in office as the firm’s boss.

    The NSPMC, a subsidiary of the CBN, is responsible for printing and minting the nation’s currency notes, coins and high-level security documents.

    The DSS insider, who spoke only on conditions of anonymity, said:
    “He was conspiring with Godwin Emefiele to loot the printing and minting agency. We are still tracing billions they stole.”

    The spokesperson for the SSS declined to speak on Mr Masanawa’s detention, which stood at 22 days as of Friday morning.

    “No comment,” Peter Afunaya said in a message to The Gazette Friday morning.

  • Lawyer files N10bn suit against Twitter, DSS

    Lawyer files N10bn suit against Twitter, DSS

    A legal practitioner, Mr Maxwell Opara, has filed an alleged defamatory suit seeking N10 billion in damages against Twitter and the Department of State Services (DSS).

    In the writ of summons marked: FCT/HC/CV/7186/23 and filed at the FCT High Court by Malachy Nwaekpe, Opara listed Twitter Nigeria Limited and Director-General (DG) of State Security Service (also known as DSS) as 1st and 2nd defendants.

    The State Security Service and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice are listed as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively in the suit dated Aug. 11 and filed Aug. 14.

    The lawyer filed the suit against the allegation that the Twitter, now known as X, “negligently allowed the defamatory, ethnic profiling and racist comments against” him by the DSS under the leadership of its director-general on the security agency’s platform on July 18 for more than 96 hours.

    Opara, who alleged that the post was caused to be published and made viral to millions of readers, decsribed the message as “false, defamatory, demeaning, disparaging and harmful.”

    He, therefore, sought eight reliefs which include “an order of this honourable court directing the 2nd and 3rd defendants (DG and DSS), jointly and severally, to issue a letter of apology on the 1st defendant’s platform Twitter and a daily newspaper widely read across the federation of Nigeria.

    He sought an order of court directing the defendants to, jointly and severally, pay to the claimant the sum N10 billion as general damages for the various defamatory, demeaning, disparaging and harmful words of the 3rd defendant under the leadership of the 2nd defendant which words were published and caused to be made viral by the 1st defendant in its Twitter platform.

    “An award of 10 per cent post judgment interest per annum on the entire judgment sum from the date of judgment till same is fully liquidated.”

    The matter was yet to be assigned to a judgment at the time of the report.

    In the tweet, the DSS was quoted as having written the following, “Charge and bail, overzealous uninformed IPOB/ESN lawyer Maxwell Okpara mobilises other like minded lawyers against DGSS.

    “Futile Efforts. Well, Nigerians, beware! This is in bad faith. Transferred aggression.

    “A Biafran republic agitator and outlawed IPOB counsel defending the suspended CBN governor.

    “Is IPOB defending one of theirs? What a contradiction, what’s the connection, may Maxwell be properly educated on points of law, please.”

  • Ekpa working for DSS – Emma Powerful alleges

    Ekpa working for DSS – Emma Powerful alleges

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has alleged that the factional leader, Mr Simon Ekpa was working for the Department of State Services (DSS), to bring down the group.

    Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful made the allegations in a press release on Monday, claiming that Ekpa was in 2016, trained by DSS and sent into IPOB as a mole.

    Ekpa, a Finland-based separatist leader, since the arrest of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu in 2021, claimed leadership of the group and later styled himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile.

    He is alleged to be responsible for the civil disobedience orders in the southeast region and is reported to be responsible for the violence unleashed on innocent people during the sit-at-home days.

    Although IPOB has constantly dissociated itself from the activities of Ekpa, the self-appointed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, he insists his actions are to demand the speedy release of Kanu.

    Powerful said: “Ekpa was prior to this period groomed by the Nigerian DSS to usurp the leadership of IPOB in 2016 but that evil plans failed woefully.

    “Simon Ekpa was the same person as the faceless Okwudili that DSS created in 2016 as the new leader of IPOB when our leader was in detention in 2016. Prior to this time, Simon was a hater of Ndigbo and particularly, IPOB in Finland. IPOB members in Finland will attest to this.

    “Simon Ekpa is the exclusive project of the Nigerian DSS, to create a situation of unrest and hostilities in the South East which the end product was to destroy the image of IPOB.”

    The group said if it was not so, the federal government would have taken certain steps to arrest his activities in the zone.

    “Why is the Nigerian government not making any effort to diplomatically engage the Finnish Government about the visible hostilities of Ekpa? Why did Nigeria suppress the Legal Investigation of Ekpa in Finland, also his court cases in Nigeria?”

    The group said if the federal government was serious about ending Ekpa’s rascality in the zone, it would have ordered the DSS to allow Kanu to address his followers through his social media channels.

    The group also called on its members to discountenance Ekpa while also challenging him to attempt to dish orders to IPOB members without using Kanu’s name and see that no one would listen to him.

  • IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu not released – DSS source

    IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu not released – DSS source

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has not released Nnamdi Kanu, the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a competent source revealed in Abuja.

    The source said on Sunday that contrary to reports in a section of the media, the IPOB leader was only granted access to his personal doctors under the supervision of the Service.

    Some sections of the media had reported that Kanu was on Saturday, released for the first time, since his incarceration two years ago to meet with his personal physicians in an Abuja hospital outside the facility of the DSS.

    According to the DSS source, access to doctors for suspects in DSS custody is routine in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Service.

    The DSS source said the IPOB leader was granted access to his personal doctors under the supervision of its operatives.

    The source said such access under the supervision of personnel of the service was not only applicable to Kanu but every other suspect in DSS custody.

    The source further said Kanu’s access to his personal doctors was also in line with the order of Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    According to the source, even before the order, Kanu had always been given access to medical services.

    “Apart from being routine, Kanu was also granted access to his personal doctors in line with the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    “Reports that Kanu was released to see his personal doctors is baseless because the access granted him was under the supervision of the DSS.

    “The DSS is an organization that believes in the rule of law and so, will continue to comply with orders of court,” the source said.

    NAN

  • Group condemns call for DSS boss, Bichi’s resignation

    Group condemns call for DSS boss, Bichi’s resignation

    A Civil Society Organisation, Save Nigerian Movement (SNM), has condemned call by some individuals and groups for the resignation of Mr Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS).

    The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Rev. Solomon Semaka, on Saturday in Abuja said the call was the handiwork of high profile criminal suspects currently undergoing trial.

    Semaka described the call as a desperate bid by criminal elements to hoodwink Nigerians and curry public sympathy against the service and the Federal Government.

    “The call is a reckless ploy and afterthought, deployed by powerful criminal suspects undergoing trial in line with the rule of law.

    “These individuals have resorted to smear campaign against the Federal Government apparently to evade justice and stamp their feet and take control of the system,” he said.

    According to him, these high profile and very powerful criminal syndicates already in custody have deployed their enormous financial war against the DSS at the detriment of national security and Nigerians.

    “As a frontline Civil Society Organisation, committed to promoting democracy and societal values, we deem it necessary to condemn the purported call for the sack of the DSS boss.

    “We also condemned the threats of a nationwide protests by those we consider as crisis entrepreneurs who always avail themselves to be bought by wealthy criminals at the detriment of Nigerians.

    “It is troubling that some Nigerians have sold their conscience to the same corrupt elements that impoverished us while in public office by engaging in criminality instead of service delivery,” he said.

    Semaka said the allegations made by the “crisis entrepreneurs’’ against Bichi and the DSS were baseless and a clear case of corruption fighting back.

    He said the use of criminally acquired wealth, influence and faceless groups to sponsor campaigns of calumny against the DSS was an old trick that Nigerians would not fall for.

    The convener said it was shameful that some greedy Nigerians had teamed up with enemies of the country just because of selfish financial gain.

    “This is a clear case of corruption fighting back to overwhelm the state.

    “The DSS must do its job and refrain from falling for cheap blackmail as they strive to ensure national security,” he added.