Security operatives vacate NASS as news of DSS D-G’s sack filters in; IGP says Police is not involved
By Cecilia Ijuo, Ismaila Chafe
Security operatives have vacated the National Assembly (NASS) after about 10 hours of blockade of the complex.
The operatives vacated the premises at exactly 2.46 p.m.
They opened the entrance to the National Assembly and left few hours after the news of the sack of Mr Lawal Daura, erstwhile Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) filtered in.
The atmosphere at the National Assembly earlier on Tuesday was charged as security operatives refused some lawmakers, newsmen and staff of the National Assembly entry into the complex.
The operatives, in their numbers, barricaded the entrance to the complex as early as 7 a.m. when workers were resuming work.
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, consequently directed the termination of Daura’s appointment some hours after his men blockaded the complex.
Osinbajo, in a statement by Mr Laolu Akande, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, directed him to hand over to the most senior officer of the Service until further notice.
Although no reason was given for his sack in Akande’s statement, it is believed to be connected with his role in the NASS blockade.
Daura retired from the SSS in 2013, having reached the statutory retirement age of 60 but was recalled by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the organisation on July 2, 2015.
Daura, the sixth director-general of the SSS, one of the three security agencies created out of the defunct National Security Organisation in 1986, succeeded Ita Ekpenyong.
Before the sack was announced, Osinbajo had summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and Mr Daura, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
NAN gathered that the two security chiefs, who arrived Aso Rock at different times, were to update the acting president on security developments, including the blockade of the NASS.
Meanwhile, staff members went agog as the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, arrived in the lobby of the NASS.
His supporters, including Senators and House of Representatives members were seen cheering him as he sat with them for few minutes at the lobby.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has exonerated the Nigeria Police Force from Tuesday’s blockage of the National Assembly (NASS) by security operatives.
Idris absolved the police of any blame after a closed-door meeting with the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the standoff at the NASS complex reached him as a surprise, adding that the police would soon issue a statement in relation to the impasse.
“Obviously, like I said, I have not got a detailed brief on that. In fact we are going to issue a (press) release (on that),’’ he said.
The acting President had on Aug. 7 sacked Daura with immediate effect, over Tuesday’s invasion of the premises of the National Assembly by security operatives.
Osinbajo condemned the unauthorized standoff at the National Assembly complex, describing it as “a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order’’.
He said, the “unlawful act, which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency, is condemnable and completely unacceptable.’’
The acting President, therefore, assured Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus, who participated in “this travesty’’ would be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sacked DSS boss had, along with the IGP and the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, earlier met behind closed doors with the acting President.
In a statement by Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, the Police “categorically” stated that “its personnel were not involved in any way whatsoever in the blockade of the National Assembly in the early hours of today, 7th August, 2018.”
The statement said that the Force was not informed and had no pre-knowledge of the blockade and implored the Media and the general Public to disregard in its entirety insinuations that Police personnel were involved in the blockade.
It assured that the Nigeria Police Force “will continue to ensure that the rule of law prevails, sustain the unflinching respect, support and protection of all constituent authorities and democratic institutions in the Country, while maintaining law and order, protection of lives and property Nationwide.”
