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Tag: DSS

  • DSS arrests #RevolutionNow protesters in Osogbo

    DSS arrests #RevolutionNow protesters in Osogbo

    After one year, the Convener of RevolutionNow in Osun State, Olawale Bakare, has been rearrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS in Osogbo.
    Recall that in August 4, 2019, a human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner, former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore staged a protest in Lagos, Abuja, Osun and other part of the country which led to his arrest and detention.

    Similarly, Bakare was also arrested in Osogbo and arraigned alongside Sowore.

    Olawale, on Wednesday with members of the Revolution Now converged at the popular Olaiya junction in Osogbo to state a protest against bad governance, lack of infrastructure, extra judicial activities, among others.

    The protesters had addressed the police officers at the scene on their mission.

    A yet to be identified member of the RevolutionNow while addressing security agents and onlookers was abruptly arrested by DSS. Bakare and two others were also arrested, while others fled the scene.

  • Fake DSS personnel bags 12 years imprisonment

    Fake DSS personnel bags 12 years imprisonment

    A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Monday sentenced one Ademola Lawal to a total of 12 years in jail for impersonating a personnel of the Department of State Services(DSS) and N1.85 million fraud.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Patricia Ajoku convicted and sentenced Lawal based on the evidence before her and the fact that the convict pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him.

    Ajoku, who noted that the court took awareness of the fact that the convict pleaded guilty, said:

    “”It is my belief that the convict is remorseful of his action now and has demonstrated that he is willing to change and contribute positively to the society.

    “Nevertheless, Lawal is sentenced to two years in prison for each of the six offences to serve as deterrent to others.

    “However, sentences shall run concurrently.

    “In addition, Lawal shall pay the monies he fraudulently obtained from his victims which shall be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge said.

    The defence counsel, Mr Musbau Olapade, had shortly before sentencing, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

    Olapade said that the convict was a first time offender and had learnt his lesson in a bitter way.

    At the trial, counsel to the DSS, Mr T.A. Nurudeen, had told the court that the convict was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on impersonation and threat.

    Nurudeen said that the convict committed the crime between 2015 and 2019 before he was eventually apprehended.

    According to the prosecutor, Lawal separately obtained N1.5 million from a director of FCMB, N200,000 from one Bako Danbata and N150,000 from one Ibrahim Bunkutu.

    Nurudeen said that the convict, who posed as a personnel of the DSS, told his victims that he was in a position to help them out of their problems with the agency.

    He also said that Lawal intimidated and threatened two foreigners legitimately working at Tincan Island port in Lagos State through the internet.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 1 (A) and (B) as well as 108 (2) of Advanced Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Prohibition Act Cap, 2015.

  • Two NSITF staff arrested by DSS

    Two NSITF staff arrested by DSS

    Two staff of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) simply identified as Madam Ochei and Tope were on Monday arrested by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    They were alleged to have attempted to smuggle files out of the corporate headquarters of the agency in Abuja. Ochei was caught at the gate with Tope’s bag containing the smuggled files.

    It would be recalled that the Managing Director of NSITF, Adebayo Somefun and some top management staff were recently suspended for financial breaches and other acts of gross misconduct.

    The Managing Director and some members of his Executive were accused of lavishing N3.4 billions on non-existent staff training split into about 196 different consultancy contracts in order to evade the Ministerial tenders Board and Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals.

    The Management Board of NSITF led by Austin Enajemo Isire at the weekend announced that it would probe the financial activities of the suspended management.

    He said the approval for the suspension of the staff had been conveyed to the Minister in charge of the Ministry in a correspondence referenced SGF 47/511/T/99 of June 30, 2020, adding that the Minister has conveyed this approval and other necessary directives to him in terms of setting up a board- driven investigative panel.

  • BREAKING: DSS arrests acting EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Magu

    BREAKING: DSS arrests acting EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Magu

    Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Sahara Reporters say he was arrested over allegations that he owns four properties.

    He is also alleged to have transferred funds abroad through a third party.

    In 2016, DSS accused the EFCC boss of living in a N40m mansion paid for by one Umar Mohammed, a retired Air Commodore.

    EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, did not take calls.

    The DSS report said on December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.

    It noted that Magu is “currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service”.

    DSS stated that Magu enlisted “the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m”

    In one of such trips, the report added that Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed with a bank MD who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    “Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high-profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for first-class air travels. On 24 June 2016, he flew Emirate airlines first-class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9m. This is in spite of Mr President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class.

    “Magu has fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns,” the DSS report said.

  • Buhari issues fresh directives to DSS, Army, Police

    Buhari issues fresh directives to DSS, Army, Police

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and other security agencies, to ensure telecom infrastructures across Nigeria are protected.

    This follows a request made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ibrahim Pantami.

    The Department of State Security (DSS), the Police and the Civil Defence Corps, are also to join in the fight against vandalism.

    A statement from Pantami’s media aide, Uwa Suleiman, also called on telecom companies to reciprocate the gesture, by reducing the price of data.

    Uwa noted that the COVID-19 outbreak, has “led to a massive migration to digital platforms”, which has subsequently led to an increase in “the level of importance of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) to the sustenance of our economy and the security of the nation”.

    Part of the statement reads: “The Honourable Minister is delighted to inform stakeholders in the telecommunications industry that, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved and also directed that necessary physical protective measures be emplaced to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure deployed across the country.

    “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been notified of Mr President’s directive.”

  • BREAKING:Release Sanusi, Court orders IG, DSS, DG

    BREAKING:Release Sanusi, Court orders IG, DSS, DG

    ABUJA – The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Friday, ordered that the dethroned Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, should be granted his freedom.

    The court, in a ruling by Justice Anwuli Chikere, held that Sanusi who was deposed as Emir by the Kaduna State government last Monday and forcefully taken to Awe in Nasarawa State where he was confined, is entitled to his constitutionally guaranteed rights to personal liberty and movement.

    The ruling followed an ex-parte application the dethroned Emir filed through his team of lawyers led by Prince Lateef Fparteagbemi, SAN, on Thursday.

    Cited as respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020, are the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Service, the Attorney-General of Kano State and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Meanwhile, Justice Chikere fixed March 26 to hear Sanusi’s substantive suit against the Respondents.

    The the dethroned Emir had on Thursday, approached the cour to enforce his fundamental human rights. He specifically prayed the court to order his release from “the detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons.”

    The Applicant anchored his request on section 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Order 4 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules

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    He also sought for an order granting him leave to effect service of the court order alongside the Originating motion and subsequent processes on all the Respondents, through substituted means, by allowing the processes to be delivered to any officer in the office of the Respondents. In the alternative, Sanusi, sought for leave to publish the processes in at least one national newspaper. He said: “Considering the status of the Respondents, it would be difficult to effect personal service on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents, unless you his application is granted. “1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents will have knowledge of the originating motion for the enforcement of the Applicant’s fundamental right, if they are served by substituted means as stated on the motion paper. “Applicant’s fundamental right to life, human dignity, personal liberty and movement are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the Respondents.

    “Exceptional hardship shall be caused to the Applicant before the service and hearing of the originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental right. “That 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents would not be prejudiced if this application is granted and it is in the interest of Justice to grant this application”, he added.

    The Kano State government had accused Sanusi of disloyalty, alleging that he disrespected its authority and absented himself from meetings without cogent reasons. Sanusi was initially banished to Loko village in Nasarawa State after his dethronement, but later moved to Awe town. Though the dethroned Emir had since accepted his fate as the will of God, he however went to court to challenge the legality of his confinement in Nasarawa state.

  • BOKO HARAM: Police, DSS Beef Up Minister’s Security

    BOKO HARAM: Police, DSS Beef Up Minister’s Security

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, on Monday, refused to comment on threats by the Boko Haram sect to ‘kill’ him

    Shekau, The Boko Haram leader, had in a recent video surfaced on social media vowed to deal with Pantami over the minister’s plans to block the terror group’s communication network. Shekau, in the video, also mocked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who was booed during his trip to Maiduguri, Borno State.

    Despite the threat, Pantami visited Government Secondary School, Garki, in Abuja on Monday as part of his plans to mentor pupils to pursue careers in the digital sector, The Punch reported The minister delivered a lecture in the classroom, where he spoke about emerging technologies and the implications of the Federal Government’s digital economy project.

    Newsmen reported that security was beefed up around the minister, with armed personnel of the police force and Department of State Services positioned at strategic locations.

    In an interview with journalists after the lecture, Pantami was asked about the threat by Boko Haram. “I don’t have any comment now,” he said.