Skip to main content

Sacked DSS DG Released From Police Custody, Passport Seized

Intelligence authorities have released Lawal Daura and confiscated his international passport, PREMIUM TIMES has been informed.
The top spy chief was disgraced out of office and taken into custody on Tuesday after ordering the deployment of SSS operatives to lay siege to the National Assembly.
Mr Daura was released on Wednesday evening from a guest house run by the State Security Service in Gwarimpa area of Abuja where he had been placed on house arrest since Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo ordered his dismissal on Tuesday. The presidency said the deployment of the SSS officials to the National Assembly was unauthorised.

The presence of masked SSS agents who prevented federal lawmakers and staff members from entering the parliament drew nationwide outrage on Friday morning. By afternoon, Mr Osinbajo, apparently incensed by the images of the ensued fracas being beamed across the world, ordered Mr Daura’s instant dismissal from service.
He was also asked to be remanded in custody, following allegations he might have committed some of the gravest heist and betrayal in Nigeria’s national security history.
He was initially reportedly taken to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad facility in Guzape neighborhood, Abuja, where he spent time answering questions for his highly controversial tenure at the secret police.
Later on, he was moved to one of the numerous guests houses run by SSS around the Federal Capital Territory. Specifically, he was detained at a building in Gwarinpa, a massive residential community filling the northwestern corridor of the capital, security sources informed of the matter said.
“He was given his phones and released to go,” a source said. “But his international passport was taken from him.”
It was not immediately clear where Mr Daura is currently putting up, but security sources said he would not be able to go under the radar given the intensity of surveillance already placed on him.
His two known telephone lines were still switched off as at the moment this story was ready for publication. The SSS has not had a spokesperson since September 2015, shortly after Mr Daura took over, despite demands by media advocates.
The police did not return requests for comments about when Mr Daura was handed over to the SSS and other details surrounding his interrogation.
Although specific allegations against Mr Daura are still being tidied by law enforcement authorities, the major crux of why he might be facing charges weighs heavily on corruption allegations.
Already, one of his closest associates at the SSS has flipped on him, recounting gruesome details of fraudulent activities allegedly executed by Mr Daura to PREMIUM TIMES over the past 24 hours.
It was also learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is after Mr Daura, but details of that are still fuzzy as at Thursday morning. A spokesperson for the EFCC did not return requests for comments.
Multiple security sources are, however, not optimistic about the possibility of EFCC taking Mr Daura into custody, much less filing charges against him. This is not necessarily because they feared Mr Magu might be trying to avenge Mr Daura’s thwarting of his confirmation by the Senate, but because it would be a major flight from a longstanding culture in the security circles.
“No serious service will release its men to other services for investigations and prosecution,” a security source said. “Except there is an executive order from above.”
The EFCC has moved against security chiefs in the past, including former Inspector-General Tafa Balogun and service chief under President Goodluck Jonathan, but the presidents reportedly signed off on these.
Whether Mr Osinbajo has asked the EFCC to probe Mr Daura was unclear. The presidency did not immediately return requests for comments Thursday morning.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ooni Dismiss Rumours of Resurgence of Ife-Modakeke War

  The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has rubbished the reports that farmers killed in Toro village, Modakeke is a renewed crisis between Modakeke and Ife. Ooni described the killing in Modakeke as sheer criminality. "What happened at Toro village was sheer criminality and the long hand of the law would soon catch up with the perpetrators,” Ooni stated. He noted that attachment of communal coloration to the killing is an attempt by mischief makers to derail security operatives who are on top of the matter. Oba Adeyeye in a release by Moses Olafare, his director of media and public affairs said he received the report of the killing on Friday with serious concern. The monarch said the matter has been reported to the appropriate security agencies who have swung into action. Ooni warned that the Ife-Modakeke crisis has long been resolved and the killings should not be linked to the long resolved crisis. Oba Adeyeye thanked the Osun government, security agencies, and vigilante...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gunmen invade Edo community, kill 3, abduct 13 children, women

  Heavily-armed gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have reportedly invaded Emokpae community, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, where they killed three persons. The invaders were said to have also hijacked a bus conveying 13 passengers, including school children and market women, and marched them into the forest. he people of Emokpae community staged a peaceful protest to the State Government House in Benin on Friday. Spokesman for the community who gave his name simply as Egua, told journalists that the 13 passengers were still being held captives by the gunmen. Egua, who claimed to be the local leader of Edo State Security Network, disclosed that the kidnappers had contacted the family of a female hostage, demanding for a whopping N20 million ransom. “Yesterday, as at 3 pm, when our children were returning from school from the neighbouring community, the herdsmen invaded the road, took our children, even the bike men that went to take them from the school...
Post a Comment
Read more

Governor Ortom Eulogizes Late Pa Jerome, Father of Ex-BERWASSA Boss

  ….As family announces burial arrangements   Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has extolled the Late Pa Jerome Abalike Ella, father of his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Water Resources, Engr. Ejembi Ella, and his indelible legacies.   This is coming as the family announces the burial arrangements for the deceased whose death occurred last month, December 27, 2022.   Ortom described  the deceased  as a renowned community leader who was humble, hardworking and dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity until his demise.   In a condolence letter on behalf of his family, the government and people of Benue State to the SSA, a copy of which Humanity Watch obtained, the governor stated that the transition of Pa Jerome at a time his wise counsel was most needed, has created a vacuum in the family that will be difficult to fill.   The governor however, urged the SSA on Water Resources who is also the immediate past General Ma...
1 comment
Read more