In reaction to a Federal High Court judgement ordering the immediate release of an Ekiti lawmaker, Afolabi Akanni, who was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused the agency of going beyond its brief.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti ordered the release on Friday.
But Fayose, a well-known critic of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of President Muhammadu Buhari, said the DSS had begun to usurp the powers of the police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies, while asserting that the security outfit had become partisan.
The DSS had levelled allegations of financial impropriety against Akanni and others.
The EFCC is empowered to investigate allegations of financial impropriety against any individual, both private and public, in the country.
Speaking on the court order, Fayose said: “Beyond this judgment, I have always said that the DSS are taking on more than their brief. They have become an instrument of oppression. They are now taking up the job of the police, the EFCC and all other security agencies.
“You would recall that they were at the Akwa Ibom government House to harass the governor. They came to Ekiti too to do the same thing. But this is Ekiti, they are taking on a wrong customer.”
Also arrested by the DSS were Commissioner for Finance, Toyin Ojo; former Chairman of the Internal Revenue Board, Ropo Ogunjobi and some other lawmakers.
Fayose further lamented the violation of the rights of the detained personalities, many of whom have since been freed.
He said they were arrested without a court order and detained for “one, two weeks”, in violation of their rights.
The governor called on all Nigerians to support the call against arbitrary arrest and detention by DSS, as it could be anybody’s turn in the future, if the security agency is not called to order now.
Leave a Reply