Politics

DSS produces 12 Igboho’s aides in court

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The Department of State Services, on Wednesday, ensured the appearance of the 12 detained cohorts of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, as mandated by the Federal High Court Abuja.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on July 23, ordered the DSS to ensure the appearance of the agitators during the court session on July 29.

However, the DSS flouted the order as they failed to produce the detainees.

In a continuation of the trial on July 29, the DSS could not produce all the 12 detainees which led to an adjournment of the trial.

Justice Egwuatu berated the agency for failing to produce the applicants according to the order of the court

The detained aides of Sunday Igboho had instituted a suit against the DSS and its Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, following their arrest and detention on July 1, after the DSS’ raid of Igboho’s residence in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo state.

The agitators are Abdulateef Ofeyagbe, Amoda Babatunde, Tajudeen Erinoyen, Diakola Ademola, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah, and Ayobami Donald.

Others are Adelabe Usman, Oluwapelimi Kunle, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Opeyemi, and Bamidele Sunday.

Politics

DSS produces 8 of 12 detained Igboho’s aides in court

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The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday presented eigth aides of the Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

This comes after Justice Obiora Egwuatu in his ruling on the ex parte application before the court, ordered that the DSS produce the 12 detained aides of Igboho in court on the next adjourned date, July 29.

Justice Egwuatu also ordered the DSS to show cause why the applicants should not be admitted to bail.

However, despite Justice Egwuatu’s directive, the DSS failed to produce the 12 detained aides of Igboho in court on July 29.

The court again, issued a fresh order to the Director-General of the Service to produce the 12 aides before it on August 2 (today), after the case was adjourned.

The aides were arrested when DSS officials raided Igboho’s home on July 1, but have sued the service, saying their fundamental human rights were being infringed.

The counsel to the arrested aides, Pelumi Olajenbesi, sued the DSS, claiming that his clients have remained underground for weeks after their arrest.

Politics

Gani Adams berates DSS for failing to present Igboho’s aides in Court

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The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams has slammed the Department of State Services (DSS) for its refusal to ensure the appearance of the 12 aides of Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) be­fore the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the agitators were arrested on July 1, during the raid of his Soka residence in Ibadan.

However, the DSS on Thursday said it had only three of the aides in custody as against the initial 12 reported in the media.

In his reaction via a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, on Friday Adams noted that the conduct of the DSS was a gross violation of human rights.

He also wondered why it has tak­en the DSS so much time to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ugly incident where two of Igboho’s aides were allegedly killed.

“Our constitution is clear about the rights of every citi­zen that anybody arrested must be taken to court latest 24 hours after his arrest and such rights must be protected under the law.

“It is sad and most unfortu­nate that the DSS had arrogated to itself covert power that usually reminds us the inglorious years of the military where citizens’ rights have no basis in their law.

It is sad and most unfortu­nate that the DSS had arrogated to itself covert power that usually reminds us the inglorious years of the military where citizens’ rights have no basis in their law.

“Therefore, the DSS failure to present Igboho’s aides in court for the second time was a flagrant display of lawlessness and gross injustice. Ideally, it is only the President and the Vice President of the country that have that immunity as provided by our constitution.

“So why is the DSS finding it too difficult to allow the constitu­tion to take its course as it is done in other climes,” he stated.

Politics

IPOB tags DSS raid on Igboho’s home as ‘barbaric’, declares solidarity

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The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned the raid on the country home of the Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo popularly called ‘Igboho’, by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), describing the incident as “barbaric” and “unacceptable”.

Ripples Nigeria reported that the DSS had in the early hours of Thursday, July 1, raided Igboho’s residence at the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State, after which they allegedly recovered some arms and ammunitions, and also paraded some members of the group as suspects.

In a statement on Friday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said the attack was an “act of impunity”.

The statement read, “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemn the recent attack and massacre of peaceful and unarmed citizens of Odua people in the House of Sunday Ighoho at his country home in Ibadan Oyo state.

“Sunday Igboho has not killed anybody. The Nigerian government and her security operatives invaded his home and kidnapped his innocent women in the house for the proposed rally in Lagos on Saturday 4th of July 2021.

“Fulani and their collaborators are trying to bring catastrophe in Nigeria. They are trying to plunge Nigeria into a serious crisis that will consume everybody. They should stop taking the indigenous nations in Nigeria for granted. Enough of this impunity!”

The group declared solidarity for Igboho and the Yoruba nation agitators, saying that its members across the world are solidly behind Sunday Igboho and the Odua Nation Movement.

The attack on Igboho is akin to the attack they unleashed on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi on September 14, 2017, when the military Python danced in his country home.

“It’s very appalling that the Nigeria security agencies are aiding and abating criminal Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terror groups to kill innocent citizens in Nigeria while suppressing those genuinely defending their people.

“Nigeria will soon regret their actions towards the Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt region. The whole southerners in the army, police, DSS, and the security outfit in Nigeria must understand that this fight was brought to their homes by Fulani Jihadists. Nobody should think that things are still normal. Very soon all Christians will be forced to convert to Islam. It’s part of their agenda.

But IPOB is working tirelessly to stop this evil agenda. And we must do it for the betterment of unborn children in this land. Now is the time for the entire Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt to unite and defend their ancestral land otherwise we become slaves to the jihadists. But God forbid!” the statement added.

Meanwhile, IPOB is still saddled with its challenges, as it has had its share of the Federal Government’s wrath.

Ripples Nigeria reported that the intelligence unit of the Nigerian security operatives recently re-arrested the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who jumped bail in 2017 and left the country

Politics

Court remands IPOB leader, Kanu, in DSS custody, schedules July 26 for trial

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The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, be remanded in a Department of State Service (DSS) facility, pending the determination of his trial.

Justice Binta Nyako gave the order after counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the defendant (Kanu) who jumped bail, had been arrested and produced in court.

Labaran urged the court for an order detaining the arrested IPOB leader at the DSS facility pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Justice Nyako, who granted the plea, adjourned the matter until July 26 for trial continuation.

Politics

Video: DSS didn’t arrest me, I have government backing to meet bandits – Gumi

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Popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has denied that he was invited or arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS), adding that the government was aware of his rapport with the bandits in the forests.

News media platforms reported on Friday that the cleric was invited by the DSS after he alleged that security agents collaborate with bandits to engage in killing and kidnapping for ransom.

However, Gumi debunked the reports after Jumaat prayer at Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna State on Friday.

He said; “Nobody invited me for questioning or any arrest, I can say that categorically.

Since I ventured into the forest, I went there with full security, the police, with the knowledge of the DSS, traditional rulers, the Fulani leaders, I never went alone.”

Gumi added that all along he and government officials have been engaging the bandits and their is no cause for alarm from the public.

All along, I have been doing it with the government and there is no difference between us and the authority. So people should have their peace,” the cleric said.

Watch the video:

Entertainment

DSS releases Kano singer detained for blasphemy

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Ahmad Abdul, an Islamic singer who was taken into custody after releasing an alleged blasphemous song.

According to Daily Trust, Abdul was picked by the DSS for releasing the uncensored song titled ‘Barhama Gwaska’, perceived as blasphemous and capable of creating chaos in Kano state.

The secret police had said it took the singer into protective custody to avert likely violent reactions against him from residents

While in detention, Abdul tendered an apology to the entire Muslim community, Kano state government, and Islamic scholars.

Confirming his release from custody on Monday, Executive Secretary of Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board, Ismaila Na’abba Afakallah, said he had received hundreds of petitions against the song from concerned citizens.

Afakallah said he reported the singer to the DSS which later arrested him at a hotel where he had been hiding for days to save him from the mob.

He has been released as he regretted and apologised over his offence, promising not to repeat it,” Afakallah said.

Politics

Fr. Mbaka not in our custody – DSS

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The Department of State Services, DSS, says the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, is not in its custody.

DSS spokesman, Peter Afunnaya, made this known in a text message sent to The Punch on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

He (Mbaka) is not with the DSS, please,” Afunnaya wrote in response to an inquiry by The Punch.

Controversy trailed the whereabouts of Mbaka on Wednesday with a reported protest in Enugu State over the fiery cleric’s alleged arrest by yet-to-be-identified security operative.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC), earlier raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the religious leader.

The clergyman had recently demanded the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari, after which the presidency released a statement, saying that he wants Buhari to resign because his contract request was not granted by government.

In a statement issued by the President-General of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he said Mbaka was last seen on Tuesday, adding that every effort to trace him had failed.

“We have it on good authority that his aides have neither seen nor heard from him since Tuesday.

Calls put to his mobile line have also remained unanswered; this has now prompted us to issue this alarm as we would not take it lightly should anything untoward happen to him.

“We are giving the Federal Government 48 hours to produce the priest, else they should be ready to face Igbo youths. They were dining and wining with him all along and now that he told the truth, they are no longer comfortable with him.

“Let nothing happen to Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. It will not be in anybody’s interest,” the group warned.

Politics

We’ve invited, grilled people who made inciteful utterances – DSS

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The Department of State Services, DSS, says it will begin a clampdown on agents of anarchy in various parts of the country.

The DSS, in a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, on Sunday, faulted those said to be creating instability through comments that threaten the sovereignty and corporate existence of the nation.

It also condemned what it called the unnecessary utterances and activities of some religious and past political leaders who have either called for a forceful change of government or mass action against it.

The secret police also said that it had invited persons known to have made inciteful comments in public, and cautioned them.

The DSS described as unfortunate, a situation where those who should be patriotic were allowing their personal ambitions to ruin the nation.

It reminded every Nigerian that although democracy offers free speech, it does not give room to reckless pronouncements.

Read the full statement by the DSS below:

PRESS RELEASE

DSS SUPPORTS INDIVISIBLE UNITED NIGERIA; WARNS AGAINST UNSAVOURY AND INCITING UTTERANCES

The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby condemns the unsavoury statements by misguided elements who have continued to threaten the government, sovereignty, and corporate existence of this country.

Notable are the unnecessary vituperations and activities of some religious and past political leaders who have either called for a forceful change of government or mass action against it. It has been established that the main objective for these is to cause a disintegration of the country.

It is unfortunate that those at the forefront of this are respectable individuals who should be patriotic and not allow their personal ambitions to ruin the nation.

The Service has also noted their desperation and penchant to collaborate with external forces and influences against Nigeria.

They are reminded that even though democracy offers free speech, it does not give room to reckless pronouncements capable of undermining security. It is instructive to note that the ballot box remains the vehicle of change in a democracy.

In this regard, self-centred individuals and groups are warned to stop engaging in acts inimical to the peace and sovereignty of this nation.

In the same manner, influential personalities should be sensitive to emerging situations and guard against divisive and inciting utterances that may cause a breakdown of law and order.

Recently, the Service invited and cautioned some persons who deniably recounted their earlier statements or said they were quoted out of context.

The public should be wary of such individuals and their co-travellers who, incite them in the open but, turn in the secret to retrieve their words after they had caused the damage.

While the Service reaffirms its unambiguous support to an indivisible, indissoluble, and united Nigerian State in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, it will no longer tolerate deliberate machinations by subversive and hostile groups whose agenda is to throw the country into anarchy so as to serve the interests of their sponsors.

Consequently, the Service is assiduously working with other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure the maintenance of peace and internal security of the country.

Peter Afunanya, Ph.D

Public Relations Officer

Department of State Services,

National Headquarters,

Abuja

2nd May 2021

Politics

PDP urges DSS to investigate Akpabio

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has implored the Department of State Services (DSS) to commence investigations into the activities of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio over alleged terror links.

According to the PDP, “Akpabio has shown that he has certain information regarding the spur for escalated acts of terrorism in our country, our party urges the DSS and other security agencies to immediately invite him for questioning so as to expose the politicians in his party that are behind the ugly situation in our country.”

This was contained in a statement issued by the PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Friday.

Ologbondiyan also urged the secret service to compel Akpabio to “name politicians in the All Progressives Congress that are behind the acts of terrorism and banditry ravaging our nation.”

There is self-professed evidence that Senator Akpabio is privy to certain terrorism-related information which he must be made to share with the DSS as well as other security agencies,” the statement partly read.

According to the opposition party, this call was in response to comments attributed to Akpabio who stated that the acts of terrorism in Nigeria were “politically motivated.”

“It is instructive to state that Senator Akpabio’s revelation provides more insight into the alleged affiliation of APC leaders with terrorist elements, who had reportedly infiltrated our nation after being imported from neighboring countries by the APC, as political mercenaries, to assist it in unleashing violence to rig the 2019 general elections.

The PDP invites Nigerians to note that the APC and its leaders have failed to account for these mercenaries and have remained silent despite widespread demands by Nigerians asking the APC to return these killers to wherever they brought them,” the statement added.

Politics

Reps ask police, DSS to go after Fulani group threatening Ortom

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The House of Representatives on Tuesday charged the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to go after a terror group, Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM), which claimed responsibility for last Saturday’s attack on the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

The lawmakers unanimously adopted a motion jointly moved by members from Benue State who demanded an investigation into the attack as well as arrest and prosecution of the suspects.

The motion titled: “Armed Attack and Assassination Attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and the Worsening Spate of Insecurity in Nigeria,” was jointly sponsored by Kpam Jimin Sokpo, Benjamin Mzondu, Mark Gbillah, John Dyegh, Tyough Robert, Herman Hembe, Samson Okwu, Francis Agbo, Richard Gbande, Blessing Onuh and Godday Samuel.

The Benue lawmakers said they were concerned about the worsening spate of violent crimes and insecurity across the country ranging from cultism, armed robbery, armed herdsmen attacks, bandit attacks, armed militia attacks, Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism.

They expressed surprise that the police and DSS are yet to go after the FUNAM members despite the group’s claim on the governor’s attack.

The motion read:

“The House takes cognizance of the response by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, in condemning the armed attack and assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom, and his subsequent directive for the Police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the attack.

“The House acknowledges the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and immediate deployment of FCID to Benue State for a thorough investigation of the incident.

The House is even more worried that the assassination attempt on Ortom of Benue State is an invitation to anarchy and glaring indication that the nation is drifting into a state of full-scale lawlessness.”

Politics

DSS denies hand in alleged attempt to arrest Sunday Igboho

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The Department of Security Services (DSS) has denied being involved in the alleged attempted arrest of self-styled Yoruba activist and freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho, on Friday along the Lagos-Ibadan highway.

A video had surfaced on social media platforms yesterday showing a confrontation between Igboho’s supporters and some security officials and it was widely reported that a combined team of the Police, Army and the DSS had trailed the convoy of the activist on his way to Lagos in a bid to arrest him.

It was also gathered that Igboho was on his way to Lagos to meet with some Yoruba elders including National Leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, when he was allegedly waylaid by security officials from the Oyo State Operation Burst team which made attempts to abduct him.

However, the DSS has reacted to the allegations and said its operatives were not involved in the alleged attempt to arrest Igboho.

In a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman of he Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS said:

“The Department of State Services wishes to refute the news that it attempted to arrest one Sunday Igboho, today, at Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The said news is misinforming and should be taken as fake and therefore be disregarded. This is not true.

“The DSS did not arrest him. It did not attempt to too. Disregard such misinformation please.”

Politics

CAN cautions DSS against politicising Nigeria’s security

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday cautioned the Department of State Services (DSS) against playing politics with the country’s security.

The Christian body made the call in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Communication to its President, Adebayo Oladeji.

CAN was reacting to a claim by DSS on an alleged attempt by a faceless group to cause crisis in the country.

The statement read: “Whenever the DSS raises any alarm over the security of the country, ordinarily, one should take them seriously because of the fact that their primary responsibility includes but not limited to intelligence gathering.

“We recall that the agency raised a similar alarm recently. But how many suspects have been arrested, detained, and arraigned over the last ones? All the killings in the country have been happening without bringing those responsible to book.

Are they not aware? People are being kidnapped on the highways and in their residences without any arrest. We wonder why? Those who are shedding the innocent blood and those who are kidnapping for ransom are they spirits?

“CAN calls on DSS and others who are responsible for the security of lives and property of the people to wake up to their constitutional responsibilities.

“The least that is expected of any responsible government is the protection of lives and property of the citizens, which our governments have not been able to do.

“Sometimes, some suspects will be paraded before the camera but their prosecutions remain unknown. This doesn’t speak well of us as a nation.

“Terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals are not invincible and until they are being apprehended and successfully prosecuted, people will no longer have respect for those who are in charge of the security.”

Politics

DSS again warns of plans by ‘elements’ to stir ethno-religious violence in Nigerian

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The Department of State Services (DSS), has, once again, sent out a warning to Nigerians to shun violence of any form, as well as reminding citizens of its earlier warnings to the public about “plans by persons and groups to exploit some fault lines to cause ethno-religious violence in parts of the country.”

The DSS, through its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, had, on January 11, issued a warning where it said it had uncovered plans by some elements working with external forces to incite religious violence across the country.

The warning which came in the form of a press release titled “Plots to incite religious violence in Nigeria,” had stated that some states targeted by the criminal elements were Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and some states in the South-East part of the country.

The press release had read in part:

In another statement on Wednesday signed by Afunanya, the DSS said:

“Latest developments indicate desperate efforts by these groups to subvert public order. In this regard, they have continued to resort to inciting, unguarded and divisive statements and acts. The objective is to pit citizens against one another in order to apparently inflame the embers of tribal and religious discords.

“For the umpteenth time, the Service strongly warns these elements to desist forthwith from their (planned) nefarious acts or face the full wraths of the law.

“However, the DSS will, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, take necessary steps to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizenry.”

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