DSS reacts to reports of its agents raiding ex NSA, Dasuki's Abuja residence
Press statement from the Department of State Security:
Department of State Services,
Abuja.
5th November, 2015
1. The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been brought to the report making rounds that its operatives illegally blocked the residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki (Col/Rtd), in violation of a subsisting court order granting him a relief to travel oversea for medical services. This is to say the least that such report is not only unfounded and malicious but aimed at tarnishing the good
image of the Service.
2.
It may be recalled that SAMBO was initially arrested and charged to
court for unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering, for
which reason his international passport was seized and on the order of
the court, returned to the registrar for custody. What has however
brought the seeming standoff between SAMBO and the Service, despite the
court-ordered release of his international passport on 4th November,
2015, is his refusal to appear before a Committee undertaking the
investigation of an entirely different case.
3.
The public may wish to note that the government set up the Committee to
investigate procurement processes relating to a two billion dollar
($2billion) arms transaction by the last administration, under which
SAMBO was the NSA. It was on this premise that he was invited by the
Committee to shed more light on his involvement in the deal. It,
therefore, remains surprising and shocking that SAMBO has refused to
honour invitations of the Committee but instead resorts to grandstanding
and subtle blackmail of the Service. His refusal to appear before the
Committee has left the Service with no option than to adopt legal means
to ensure his attendance.
4.
Therefore, without doubt, SAMBO is pulling all strings available to him
to evade justice and put the Service in bad light. The simple fact is
that the DSS is not persecuting him. Nigerians are therefore enjoined to
disregard the impression being created by him. This Service wishes to
re-emphasise its commitment to the rule of law and strict adherence to
democratic ideals. However, any person or group, no matter how highly
placed, that may wish to test the will of the present democratic
dispensation, will definitely be checked through the legal provisions of
the law.
Tony OPUIYODepartment of State Services,
Abuja.
5th November, 2015
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