The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, is lobbying to become the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after leaving service.
Bichi, who is said to be close to the end of his tenure at the DSS, is currently jostling for the ambassadorial slot to escape a probe of his stewardship at the secret police, Sahara Reporters reported, quoting an unnamed presidential source.
Bichi has often been accused of running the DSS like a family business, with his wife, Aisha Bichi, said to wield enormous influence on the agency’s internal affairs.
The DSS boss was also recently accused by a journalist, Jackson Ude, of looting funds budgeted as subsidy palliative for the welfare of service staff.
The secret police strenously debunked the allegation, calling Ude a notorious fake news merchant.
“The DG of DSS, Bichi is pleading to be made an ambassador of Saudi Arabia following the recent palliatives scandal. The man has been asked to go but he is demanding for a juicy ambassadorial position for Saudi Arabia,” the source said.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) often rewards departing service chiefs with ambassadorial appointments, a move believed to be aimed at shielding them from probe or prosecution after service.
The immediate-past President Muhammadu Buhari appointed former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) as Ambassador to Benin Republic, despite allegations of embezzlement of funds for arms procurement laid against him.
In June 2022, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had recovered N1.85 billion from a house and office said to belong to Buratai in Abuja.
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