The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS)has been brought to the report making rounds that
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 OPUIYO
Department of State Services,
Abuja.
Department of State Services,
Abuja.
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