DSS officials came with two unmarked vehicles to our office, used fake names, SERAP tells court - Newstrends
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DSS officials came with two unmarked vehicles to our office, used fake names, SERAP tells court

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2 years ago

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DSS warns Osun churches, mosques, markets over alleged terrorist attack plot ahead of 2027

DSS officials came with two unmarked vehicles to our office, used fake names, SERAP tells court

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has today told a Federal Capital Territory High Court that the officials of Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) who invaded our Abuja office used fake names and came with two unmarked vehicles.”

SERAP had in September alleged that the DSS invaded its Abuja office, following the organisation’s letter calling on president Bola Tinubu to probe allegations of corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and to reverse the increase in the pump price of petrol.

The DSS then issued a statement claiming that the visit to SERAP’s office was “a routine investigation” but two of its officials subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, claiming over N5 billion in damages.

Tayo Oyetibo, SAN and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN in the statement of defence and statement on oath filed on behalf of SERAP said in court that, “One DSS official who came to SERAP’s Abuja office disguised as ‘Sarah David’ to conceal their real identities, in furtherance of the agency’s bad faith and sinister motives.”

The senior lawyers also told the court that “the DSS has no operational habit or practice of engaging with officials of NGOs, whether to establish a relationship with new leadership or for any social purpose whatsoever, and whether in the Federal Capital Territory or elsewhere.”

The suit which came up today before Justice Yusuf Halilu, Court 13 has been adjourned to 29th of November 2024 for further hearing.

SERAP’s statement of defence and statement on oath, read in part: “SERAP vehemently denies the claims by the DSS and its officials and at the trial shall urge the Court to dismiss the claims in their entirety for being frivolous and vexatious, with substantial costs in favour of SERAP.”

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“One of the two DSS officials who entered SERAP’s office signed the visitor’s book as “Sarah David” and not “Sarah John” as constituted in this suit. A photocopy of the extract from the visitor’s book showing that the official hid her true identity when she entered SERAP’s premises is hereby pleaded and shall be relied upon during trial.”

“The DSS stormed SERAP’s office demanding to see its management staff, demanding official documents in addition to interrogating and questioning its front desk officer.”

“SERAP shall during the trial of this suit challenge the competence of this suit on various grounds of law.”

“The statement published by SERAP was directed to the DSS as Nigeria’s secret security agency which is notorious for various acts of harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens over the years, and not the DSS officials as claimed.”

“Upon arrival at SERAP’s office, the one DSS official parked her private car at the premises of SERAP in company of two unmarked vehicles occupied by some operatives of the DSS.”

“The DSS is not known to make social friends of NGOs dedicated to the promotion of human rights and accountability in Nigeria.”

“There is no new leadership in SERAP and that the normal practice for public institutions and law enforcement agencies including the DSS, when inviting NGOs to a meeting is to send letters of invitation to such organizations for record purposes.”

“On 17th September 2024 the DSS had, through their Solicitor, Dr Alex Izinyon SAN, written to SERAP in respect of this matter in which they stated that the publication of SERAP complained of in this Suit was made of and concerning the DSS, and not the two DSS officials.”

“By a letter dated 23rd day of September 2024, SERAP’s Solicitors Messrs Tayo Oyetibo LP rejected the demands of the DSS as contained in their Solicitor’s letter.”

“It was after the exchange of correspondence between the DSS and SERAP, that the two DSS officials instituted this Suit based upon false facts that the publication was made of and concerning them.”

“The DSS has made contradictory statements as to the purpose of their unannounced visit and presence in SERAP’s Abuja office.”

“The DSS in their public statement which was issued on 10th September 2024 confirmed that they visited SERAP’s office on 9th September 2024 ‘on a routine investigation’.”

“The purpose of the ‘visit’ to SERAP’s Abuja office as contained in the said public statement by the DSS is completely different from the purpose contained in paragraph 5 of the claimants’, to the effect that: ‘in line with its practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed its two officials to visit SERAP’s office and invite its new leadership for a familiarisation meeting.’”

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“SERAP does not have a front desk officer in its Abuja Office named “Ruth” and as such puts the Claimants to the strictest proof of the same.”

“SERAP has received written invitations for partnerships and collaborations from many public institutions which SERAP has honoured and SERAP has a good working relationship with many public institutions in Nigeria, including the Bureau of Public Service Reform, Code of Conduct Bureau, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Human Rights Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.”

“One of the two DSS officials requested to see the incorporation documents of SERAP from the front desk officer and when told that the incorporation documents are in the custody of management staff, she requested to see senior officers of SERAP present and when asked why, she repeated that she needs to verify the incorporation documents before leaving.”

“While in the Abuja office of SERAP, one of the two DSS officials received various phone calls from her colleagues stationed outside asking her for a signal to come in but she responded to the hearing of the front desk officer that the main people were not in the office and that they should remain stationed outside.”

“One of the two DSS officials specifically asked and queried the internal structure of SERAP while asking for the whereabouts of SERAP’s director in addition to inquiring about the location from which the director issues public statements, such as the statement issued on the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the operation of NNPCL and the increase by the NNPCL in the pump price of petrol.”

“When the interrogation got heated and out of hand, the front desk officer who was then visibly scared, harassed and intimidated by the presence of the one of the two DSS officials, and the questions, multiple calls received by her and her responses thereto, advised that an official letter be sent to SERAP.”

“Owing to the continuous and heated interrogation and improper interrogation tactics by the DSS official, and the presence of unmarked vehicles stationed outside the premises of SERAP, other staff present in the office were apprehensive and afraid, expecting an imminent raid by the operatives stationed outside the office.”

“The DSS official only left the office when the front desk officer promised her that a member of SERAP’s management staff or an assigned staff would visit the office of the DSS, hopefully, that day, 9/9/2024.”

“After the DSS official left SERAP’s Abuja Office, the front desk officer called SERAP deputy director and narrated her ordeal with the officials who had left the office, but still entertained fears they might return to arrest all staff, including herself.”

“After the DSS officials signed their names in the SERAP visitor’s book, their convoy remained stationed at our office. Consequently, SERAP released a tweet on X (formerly known as Twitter) urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to instruct the DSS to cease the harassment, intimidation, and unlawful occupation of its premises.”

“Following the tweet referenced above, various media outlets began arriving to monitor the situation at SERAP’s Abuja office. Upon noticing the presence of these media organizations, the DSS officials’ convoy promptly moved their unmarked vehicles further from SERAP’s premises and subsequently departed the area.”

“The actions of the DSS officials amount to harassment, intimidation, and ill-treatment and inflicted severe psychological torture and trauma on the staff members of SERAP to the extent that some staff in the employment of SERAP were reluctant to resume when directed to do so in fear of being arbitrarily arrested, harassed, intimidated and/or detained by the DSS.”

“DSS officials never recorded the conversation between them and the SERAP front desk officer as claimed and put the officials to the strictest proof of the same.”

“SERAP is a leading NGO in Nigeria advocating for the protection of human rights in Nigeria and it is loved by Nigerians for the organization’s good work and specifically pleads that its public statement published on 9/9/2024 is true and justified.”

“The DSS officials cannot claim to have sustained any injury as a result of the Defendants’ publication, as the said publication never mentioned their names but only described the officers who came to SERAP’s office.”

“The descriptions of “tall, large, dark-skinned woman and a “slim, dark-skinned man” apply to several other staff of the DSS and not only to the Claimants, and there is no way that members of the public could know the specific officers of DSS who carried out the invasion.”

“In any event, the DSS officials did not disclose their true names to the 1st Defendant and therefore the Defendants’ publication was not, and could not have been, made in respect of the Claimants.”

 

DSS officials came with two unmarked vehicles to our office, used fake names, SERAP tells court

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KC Luxury Remanded After Pleading Not Guilty to 22-Count Drug, Money Laundering Charge

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7 hours ago

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September 25, 2026

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KC Luxury Remanded After Pleading Not Guilty to 22-Count Drug, Money Laundering Charge

KC Luxury Remanded After Pleading Not Guilty to 22-Count Drug, Money Laundering Charge

Luxury goods dealer and social media personality Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, has been remanded in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after pleading not guilty to a 22-count charge bordering on alleged cocaine trafficking, unlawful export of narcotics and money laundering.

KC Luxury was arraigned alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch before Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday.

The three defendants pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them.

Following their pleas, the prosecution asked the court to remand the defendants in NDLEA custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.

Justice Faji granted the request and ordered that the defendants remain in NDLEA custody. The court fixed October 2, 2026, to rule on their bail applications.

The case arose from an alleged 184.5kg cocaine shipment which the NDLEA said was intercepted at a DHL facility in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the cocaine was allegedly packed into five consignments and shipped through a courier logistics company from Lagos to London, United Kingdom.

The alleged offences were said to have occurred between July 28 and August 1, 2026.

The prosecution alleged that KC Luxury, Sule and Ekugo conspired with two other persons, Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were reportedly arrested in London in connection with the shipment.

The charge alleged that the consignments were shipped under the name Yemi Ejide and assigned five separate airway bill numbers.

The prosecution further alleged that Sule procured Ekugo to facilitate the shipment, while KC Luxury allegedly arranged for a staff member of BOT Express Logistics to process the consignments.

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The NDLEA also alleged that ₦13.2 million was transferred from a Mallamawa Ventures Zenith Bank account to BOT Express Logistics in connection with the shipment.

Beyond the alleged drug offences, KC Luxury is facing additional allegations relating to money laundering.

The prosecution reportedly alleged that 16 of the counts relate to financial transactions involving several companies and personal bank accounts.

The agency also alleged that billions of naira were moved through various accounts and that some of the funds were used to acquire vehicles and landed properties.

KC Luxury was further accused of allegedly failing to declare certain assets as required by law.

The charges followed the seizure of the alleged 184.5kg of cocaine at the DHL facility in Ikeja.

The NDLEA subsequently arrested KC Luxury on August 13 at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while he was preparing to travel to Paris, France.

The agency had earlier obtained a court order extending his detention for 30 days to allow investigators to complete their investigation.

KC Luxury later challenged the detention in court. However, Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos upheld the detention extension order on September 17, ruling that the order was validly made.

The court also held that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction over drug-related offences and that the NDLEA had presented sufficient material to establish reasonable suspicion of a drug-related offence.

With Friday’s arraignment, the allegations against KC Luxury and the two other defendants have formally moved into the trial process.

The prosecution will be required to present evidence in support of the charges, while the defendants will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations through their legal representatives.

The remand order does not amount to a conviction. KC Luxury, Sule and Ekugo remain presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty by a competent court.

KC Luxury Remanded After Pleading Not Guilty to 22-Count Drug, Money Laundering Charge

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Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder

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September 25, 2026

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Police Launch Investigation as Three Children Die at Anambra Native Doctor's Residence
Anambra State Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga

Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Olisa Oyelu, also known as “Obele,” over his alleged involvement in a 2023 kidnapping operation that resulted in the death of a victim.

Oyelu was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following sustained intelligence gathering and investigations into the incident.

The arrest was disclosed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement issued on Thursday, September 24.

According to the police, Oyelu is allegedly an active member of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping gang led by a suspected criminal identified as “Pincode.”

The command described Oyelu as the last identified member of the gang to be arrested in connection with the 2023 kidnapping case.

Police said investigations were launched after the incident with the aim of identifying, arresting and prosecuting all persons allegedly connected with the crime.

The command said the investigation eventually led to the arrest of Oyelu after he had allegedly remained at large for about three years.

The police did not disclose the identity of the victim or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death.

The command said that, after the completion of the ongoing investigative proceedings, Oyelu would be handed over to the correctional authorities.

The police also disclosed that “Pincode” and four other suspects linked to the case are already being held on remand at a correctional facility while awaiting the determination of their cases by the court.

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The arrest, according to the command, represents a significant development in the investigation and reflects its efforts to identify and prosecute all persons allegedly involved in the crime.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Ama, commended the operatives involved in the investigation for their perseverance, dedication and intelligence-led approach.

Ama assured residents that the command would continue to pursue suspected criminal elements operating within and outside Anambra State, with the aim of bringing suspects before the law.

He also urged members of the public to provide the police with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing investigations and improve security across the state.

The latest arrest comes amid continued police operations targeting suspected kidnapping and armed robbery networks in Anambra and other parts of the South-East.

Oyelu remains a suspect, and the allegations against him have not been established in court.

Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder

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Umahi Announces First Niger Bridge Reopening Next Week, Orders Tinubu Pictures

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7 hours ago

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September 25, 2026

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First Niger Bridge, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Umahi Announces First Niger Bridge Reopening Next Week, Orders Tinubu Pictures

Minister of Works David Umahi has directed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pictures be displayed on the First Niger Bridge after the completion of ongoing rehabilitation work on the major transport link between Anambra and Delta states.

Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of the rehabilitation work at the Onitsha end of the bridge, which has been closed to traffic following the reported vandalisation of critical structural components.

The minister also ordered the removal of illegal advertisements displayed on the bridge, directing that any future advertisement on the facility must receive approval from the Federal Ministry of Works.

Umahi further directed the Senior Special Assistants to the President in the South-East and South-South to coordinate the beautification of the bridge with photographs of Tinubu.

The minister said the directive was intended to acknowledge the President’s intervention in the rehabilitation of the bridge and the quality of work being undertaken.

The directive has generated reactions, with some groups questioning the appropriateness of displaying the photographs of a sitting president on federal infrastructure.

The controversy comes as the Federal Government works to complete emergency rehabilitation of the First Niger Bridge, which was shut to traffic after vandals allegedly removed bolts, nuts and other components of the bridge’s expansion joints.

The Federal Ministry of Works initially announced that the bridge would be closed from September 7 to September 21 for emergency repairs. The reopening was later extended by one week because persistent rainfall affected construction activities.

Umahi said the Federal Government expects the bridge to reopen next week, but stressed that it would only be reopened after the critical structural work had been completed and the necessary safety requirements met.

According to the minister, contractors have made progress in replacing the vandalised components, including bolts and the specialised expansion joint removed from the bridge.

He also directed additional work, including the repainting of structural components, bridge caps and sections of the inner carriageway.

As part of efforts to improve security around the facility, Umahi ordered the installation of additional solar-powered streetlights and the completion of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the bridge.

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He directed that the CCTV system be linked with the Second Niger Bridge to improve surveillance around the two major infrastructure facilities.

The minister also disclosed that a committee had been established to assess the condition of the bridge both above and below the water level.

The assessment is expected to provide information on the structural condition of the facility and guide future maintenance and rehabilitation work.

Umahi further directed that no security checkpoint should be established within 200 metres of the bridge, saying checkpoints in the immediate vicinity could contribute to traffic congestion and place additional pressure on the facility.

He also called on the governments of Anambra and Delta states to strengthen monitoring of scrap markets following concerns that vandals could be removing components from public infrastructure and selling them as scrap.

The First Niger Bridge, which links Onitsha in Anambra State with Asaba in Delta State, is a major route connecting the South-East and South-South with other parts of Nigeria.

The current rehabilitation became necessary after the reported vandalisation of components considered important to the bridge’s structural integrity.

Umahi said the Federal Government would prioritise safety rather than rush the reopening, adding that the bridge would return to service once the outstanding repairs had been completed.

The minister also used the inspection to highlight the Federal Government’s infrastructure projects in the South-East and urged residents of the region to take such projects into account ahead of the 2027 general election.

Umahi noted that the South-East did not strongly support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election but argued that the administration had continued to execute projects in the region.

He also questioned supporters of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over projects Obi had attracted to the South-East.

The comments have added a political dimension to the debate surrounding the rehabilitation of the First Niger Bridge, particularly as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections.

Umahi Announces First Niger Bridge Reopening Next Week, Orders Tinubu Pictures

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