According to the Department of State Services (DSS), Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, was not detained by the Secret Police as had been reported in some media outlets for reportedly refusing to answer President Bola Tinubu’s call.
At the same time, the DSS refuted claims that it had stormed the offices of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and taken files indicting President Bola Tinubu and his associates.
Dr. Peter Afunanya, a spokesman for the DSS, said in a statement on Sunday that if it weren’t for the gullible and weak people as well as the unwary public that may take offense, the Service “would not have responded to these inaccuracies.”
“To set the records straight, the DSS did not execute operations of any kind at the ICPC and CCB or remove files from their offices. Instructively, the two agencies have, on their own, refuted the news in widely circulated press statements.”
Regarding the Yari controversy, the DSS stated: “It is petty, if not downright ridiculous, to report that Senator Yari was invited because she didn’t answer the president’s call. The highest level of fake news is this. Yari understands why he was invited.
“In actuality, the Service refutes every accusation since there is no basis for them in reality or credibility. They are merely the products of their founders’ fantasies. This is especially true given that the publishers in question are well-known both inside and outside of the nation for publishing sensational, trashy, and phony news. Without the slightest regard for decency or civility, they engage in character assassinations and various forms of extortion.
The DSS added that the media claims were components of smear campaigns meant to damage or question the credibility of the Service and its leadership.
In June 2023, the Service proactively informed the public about this change, according to Afunanya. While it is aware of who is funding these defamation campaigns, it will merely let them exhaust themselves because it knows all too well that they will one day face justice. For the thief, many days are certain, but there will be that one day for the home’s owner. The writers and their backers obviously aren’t aware of the praise the Service has consistently received from most stakeholders for its exceptional performance and its professional demeanor in handling many pressing matters of national significance. Instead, they’ve opted to utilize their platforms to undermine the agency and its capabilities
“Reiterating its respect for the rule of law, independence, and autonomy of other agencies, including the judiciary and legislature, it will not avoid its obligations or permit some critics to stop it from carrying out its statutory obligations or obeying lawful orders by constituted authorities. The Service will not hesitate to do so if Yari or anybody else needs to be invited or detained, provided that it may be done legally and procedurally.
