Ekiti State Government has described claim by the Department of State
Services (DSS) that it detained member of the State House of Assembly,
representing Efon Constituency, Hon Afolabi Akanni for allegedly
committing security breach and that it was not aware of any court
order on his release as ridiculous, height of executive rascality and
open display of contempt for the rule of law.
Addressing the press on Friday, Special Assistant to the Governor on
Public Communications and new Media, Lere Olayinka, said the DSS should
tell Nigerians "when Hon. Akanni committed those offences amounting to
breach of security? Did Hon. Akanni plot coup or is he leading
insurgents to warrant his detention without trial?"
Olayinka, who was flanked by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr
Idowu Adelusi said as a result of DSS refusal to be served with the
Court Order on March 11, the order was published in a national daily
yesterday as directed by the court.
The government, which explained why it raised the alarm over Hon.
Afolabi Akanni's possible death yesterday, said; "We wish to reiterate
that the State Government addressed the press yesterday, based on the
information available to it and since the DSS was not talking to
anyone concerning the status of Hon Afolabi Akanni and others in its
custody, the government had no option than to bring the disturbing
information to the public domain and also call for calm among
residents of the State."
It said; "From the pictures of Hon. Akanni that we saw on television
and published in the newspapers, it is without doubt that he is
terribly sick and in need of urgent medical attention, and the
disturbing information about his death could have been informed by his
critical state of health. Hon. Akanni even told journalists that he
slumped twice yesterday and that he was refused access to medication.
"Evidently and as even reported in the newspapers today, the Hon.
Akanni paraded before the press by the DSS yesterday was very sick.
The press reported that he could not stand on his feet and we wish to
ask the DSS whether it actually wants him (Akanni) to die!"
"If truly the DSS has facts and evidences that Hon. Akanni committed
offence of security breach, why not charge him to court and prosecute
him with the facts and evidences before the service? Or is the DSS
waiting for Hon. Akanni to supply evidences with which he will be
prosecuted?
"If the DSS is claiming that Hon. Akanni is being held for committing
serious security breach, why was the State Commissioner for Finance,
Chief Toyin Ojo invited by the DSS? What is the correlation between
Ecological Fund, claim of Federal Government refund to Ekiti State on
construction of federal roads and State Security?
"For clarity, Chief Toyin Ojo was asked by the DSS investigators how
much was refunded to Ekiti State by the federal government on federal
roads constructed/rehabilitated by the State government and how
ecological fund released to the State was spent. He was also asked how
Governor Ayodele Fayose election was funded. How are these issues
related to the security of Nigeria? What is the business of the DSS
with the finances of Ekiti State?
"Also, former Special Assistant to the governor on Internally General
Revenue, Ropo Ogunjobi is being kept in the DSS custody since March 4.
Did he also commit "serious security breach" or he is just being held
to extract information as to the finances of Ekiti State in
furtherance to the mandate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
gladiators in the State, who are working on what they called the "2006
Template"?
"Did Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Dupe Alade, Chief of
Staff; Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice; Owoseni Ajayi, Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs; Kola Kolade, Commissioner for Works; Kayode Osho,
Special Adviser on Political Matters; Alhaji Demola Bello and other
officials of the State government already listed for arrest and
indefinite detention also commit serious security breach?"
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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