The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a statement addressing the incident that occurred at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on July 25th, 2023, during the arraignment of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the suspended CBN Governor.
In the press release, the DSS expressed regret over the unfortunate incident involving its staff and those of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) during the court proceedings. The DSS asserted that the incident was not a reflection of its professional values and principles.
The statement emphasized that the DSS has a deep respect for the Judiciary as an integral part of the government and is committed to upholding its independence and integrity. The DSS also highlighted its strong working relationship with sister security and law enforcement agencies, including the NCoS.
The DSS acknowledged that there was undue overzealousness displayed by personnel from both agencies during the incident. Consequently, the Service has initiated a thorough investigation to identify specific individuals’ roles and, if necessary, impose appropriate disciplinary actions. The focus is on learning from the incident to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The press release also addressed the recent attempts to discredit the DSS leadership and clarified that the Service remains committed to its national security mandate. It urged well-meaning Nigerians to support the DSS in achieving its security objectives for the nation and emphasized the importance of unity, love, and tolerance in building a stronger Nigeria.
Signed by:
Peter Afunanya, Ph.D
Public Relations Officer,
Department of State Services,
National Headquarters, Abuja
Date: 26th July, 2023
