The Department of State Services (DSS) has debunked claim by the Ekiti State Government that a member of the House of Assembly, Afolabi Akanni, died in custody of the secret police.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Youths and Sports Development, Lanre Ogunsuyi, had in a statement early on Thursday stated that “information reaching us indicates that one of the abducted members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Afolabi Akanni, has died in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS)”.
Speaking while parading the lawmaker before journalists in Abuja on Thursday, spokesperson for the agency, Tony Opuiyo, denied allegations that the DSS abducted lawmakers from the state.
According to him, Akanni “was duly invited by the service over some serious breaches bordering on State security and for which he has some explanations to make. These breaches fall under the purview of the DSS to investigate.”
Opuiyo said Thursday’s press conference became “necessary in order to debunk a rumour which is being dangerously spread in Ekiti State by some mischief makers to the effect that Hon. Afolabi has died in custody.”
Contrary to the stricken posture of the troubled politician at the press conference, the DSS spokesman said “Nigerians and Ekiti people in particular are convinced to see that Afolabi is hale and hearty as he is being presented to the press today.”
The DSS therefore warned “all those who have planned to make a meat out of this to desist from it and stir clear from trouble as the service will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law against any one or persons that may engage in violent actions of any kind.”
Ogunsuyi had accused the DSS of holding Akanni “incommunicado without access to his family members, doctors and lawyers,” calling on it to “immediately clarify the situation as to the status (dead or alive) of Hon Afolabi Akanni, representing Efon Constituency, by producing him physically for all Nigerians, particularly his immediate family to see.”
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, says President Muhammadu Buhari wants to intimidate him and the people of the state with the DSS.
