The Directorate of State Security Service, DSS, has threatened to drag Daar Communications Plc, and Channels Television to court for what it regarded as false, defamatory and malicious publication on the commotion witnessed at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday.
While many media houses reported the incident with some semblance of balance by reflecting the fact that the DSS was invited by the Clerk of Assembly to keep peace, the DSS said African Independent Television and Channels Television have consistently carried stories portraying the DSS in bad light as a lawless agency.
In two letters by its lawyer, Adedipe and Adedipe on Tuesday, the DSS demanded a “retraction of the publication and apology to DSS” for the seeming one-sided news broadcast by the two organisations.
The letter from the lawyer reads:
“FALSE, DEFAMATORY AND MALICOUS PUBLICATION CONCERNING THE STATESECURITY SERVICE (A.K.A. DSS) REGARDING THEIR PRESENCE AT THE LAGOS.
“DEMAND FOR RETRACTION OF THE PUBLICATION AND APOLOGY TO DSS.
“We act as solicitors to the State Security Service (A.K.A. DSS) who is hereinafterreferred to as our client and on whose instruction this letter is written to you.
“Our client’s attention was drawn to your publication which was aired repeatedly both on the news bulletin and the news bar of AIT’s’ Channel on the 17th·ofFebruary, 2025. In the said publication, it was reported that the State Security Service also known as Department of State Service (DSS) invaded the Lagos State Assembly and attempted to prevent the members of the Assembly and the speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Mojisola Meranda, from entering the chamber for plenary session.
“The above publication was equally repeated in your online news media edited by one Paul Akhagbemhe, also published on the 17th of February 2025. First, it must be stated that our client, in carrying out its core statutory mandate of collection of intelligence for good governance and national safety and upholding and enforcing criminal laws of Nigeria, was invited to the Lagos State House of Assembly, vide a letter dated 14th February, 2025, written to it by the Acting enforcing criminal, laws of Nigeria, was invited to the Lagos State House of Assembly, vide a letter dated 14th February,2025, written to it by the Acting Clerk of the said State House of Assembly. A copy of the letter is herewith attached.
“Our client was invited by the acting Clerk to come and support the Security Operatives attached to the Lagos State House of Assembly, from Sunday,16th ofFebruary,2025,in order to forestall an imminent break down of law and order, following the information that the former Speaker of the House of Assembly,RtHon. Obasa planned to resume office on the 18th of February 2025, a plan which (the acting clerk) believed poses a potential security threat to the Assemblyman its members.
“However, without any verification of the reason for the presence of our client’s officials at the Lagos State House of Assembly on the 17th of February,2025,yourorganization maliciously and falsely broadcast, both on your news bulletin and print media, that our client had invaded/stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly with a view to preventing the members and speaker from entering the chamber for plenary.
“By this publication, our client which is a highly responsible and respected organization, was portrayed as an irresponsible and reckless organization, who Ina Gestapo manner invaded/stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, to support one of the feuding parties and to desecrate the hallowed chambers.
“Your publication and/or broadcast has greatly injured the character of our client and tarnished and lowered its esteemed image in the eyes of the public.
“Having regard to the fact that your broadcast was false and coupled with the fact that, you did not ensure balancing in your report, as enjoined by the ethics of journalism, our client has instructed us to demand the following:
An immediate retraction of your defamatory publication and/or broadcast ‘on all your news platforms.
The retraction shall be accompanied by an apology which must be published for at least five (5) times daily for three consecutive days on all your new channels and platforms, including all the social media handles to which your media House has its presence.
Please note that, should you fail, to comply with the above demands within a period of seven (7) days after the delivery of this letter to you, we shall, on behalf of our client, seek redress by pursuing both civil and criminal actions against your organization as your conduct also runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act of 2015, as amended in 2024,without further reference to you.”
Several media houses had on Monday reported that the DSS was actually invited vide a letter by acting Clerk of the House, Abubakar Ottun dated February 14, 2025, where he reportedly warned that an attempt by Obasa to resume office could pose a security threat to the Assembly and its members.
The House, therefore, urged the DSS to deploy operatives from February 16 to enforce strict access control within and around the premises. The letter by the Clerk reads:
“I wish to bring to your attention a pressing matter that requires immediate action.
“The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on the 18th of February 2025 as the speaker, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.
“In light of this situation, we kindly request that you take necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises with effect from Sunday 16th February, 2025 by increasing the presence of your Men and as well observe a strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises till further notice.”
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