Ekiti accuses DSS of killing detained lawmaker

By Chris Ochayi & Rotimi Ojomoyela,

Ado-Ekiti—The alleged invasion of the State House of Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, assumed a new dimension yesterday, as the government of Ekiti State disclosed that one of the detained lawmakers, Hon Afolabi Akanni has died in the agency's custody.
Akanni, representing Efon constituency, was arrested on March 4 and whisked to Abuja.


Akanni has since been in the custody of the DSS, despite the ruling of the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ordering the DSS to either release him or produce him in court on Wednesday, March 16.

At an emergency press conference in Ado Ekiti jointly addressed by Information Commissioner, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, the speaker of the Assembly, Hon Kola Oluwawole, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ajayi Owoseeni, Special Assistant on Communications to the governor, Lere Olayinka and Akanni’s lawyer, Mr Obafemi Adewale, the Commissioner for information said; “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 Service”

Ekiti lawmaker, Afolabi, not dead – DSS

Meantime, the  DSS yesterday, described as dangerous, the  rumour making the rounds that one of the detained lawmakers, Hon. Afolabi, died in its custody.

The DSS, which presented the hale and hearty Afolabi before newsmen at its headquarters in Abuja, further denied abducting the Ekiti lawmakers.

According to the agency; “This Press Conference has become 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 our custody.

“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 (yesterday).

“You may have been aware of the recent situation in Ekiti State in which the DSS was accused of abducting the State Assembly’s legislators.

“The fact is that one of the members of the Assembly, Hon. Akanni Afolabi was duly invited by the Service over some serious breaches bordering on state security for which he has some explanations to make. These breaches fall under the purview of the DSS to investigate.

“The DSS warns 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.''

How Fayose made me PDP  chairman — Sheriff

Also, yesterday, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Modu Sheriff, revealed that Governor Ayodele Fayose and some other  Nigerians installed him as  the Chairman of the party.

Sheriff, who however, did not disclose the identities of those ‘other Nigerians’ that worked for his emergence, said it was never his intention to be the National Chairman of the party.

Sheriff, who made the statement in Ado Ekiti  at the PDP secretariat, promised to reignite the fortunes of the party back to what it used to be in 1999.