The State Security Service in Abuja on Thursday dispelled the rumoured death of Akanni Afolabi, a member of the Ekiti House of Assembly arrested by the service.
Presenting
Mr. Afolabi before journalists, Abdullahi Garba, an official of the SSS, said
the member was duly invited by the service over some breaches bordering on
state security.
He
said the breaches fall under the purview of the services to investigate.
Mr.
Garba said the briefing became necessary in order to debunk the rumour being
spread in Ekiti by some mischief makers.
“You
can see that Akanni Afolabi is hale and hearty.
“Nigerians
and Ekiti people in particular are convinced to see that Afolabi is hale and
hearty as being presented to the press today,” he said.
Mr.
Garba said investigation was still ongoing on the matter, adding that the
service had not received any court order for his release.
He
warned that the service would not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law
against any person or persons that may engage in violent actions.
“The
DSS, therefore, warns all those who have planned to make a meat out of this to
desist from it and steer clear from trouble,” he said.
Mr.
Garba assured Ekiti residents of adequate security and urged them to go about
their normal businesses.
But
while the SSS claimed Mr. Akanni was “hale and hearty”, the lawmaker was
visibly I’ll.
The
Ekiti government had earlier said it received information indicating Mr. Akanni
died in the custody of the SSS.
The government said Mr. Akanni had been unlawfully held since
March 4 by the SSS which defied a court order ordering his release.
“Significantly,
since his illegal detention, he has been held incommunicado without access to
his family members, doctors and lawyers,” a statement read to journalists by
Lanre Ogunsuyi, Commissioner for Information, Youths and Sports Development,
said.
“We
call on the DSS to immediately clarify the situation as to the status (dead or
alive) of Hon Afolabi Akanni, representing Efon Constituency, by producing him
physically for all Nigerians, particularly his immediate family to see.
“While
we are waiting for the DSS, we urge every resident of Ekiti State, particularly
the people of his immediate Constituency in Efon to remain calm.”
-Premium Times
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