On Sunday, the Department of State Service (DSS) recanted its involvement in the detention of Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress’s presidential candidate for 2023.
Nigerian immigration officials detained Sowore on Sunday morning at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, but subsequently released him.
According to a DSS source, contrary to what some media outlets had claimed, the agency was unrelated to the arrest.
He explained that although though the politician had previously been placed on the DSS watch list, his name has already been taken off the list, thus there was no need to arrest him.
“We have nothing to do with Sowore’s arrest,” the source stated. Although he was formerly on our watch list, he is not currently on it.
I don’t understand why certain media outlets would report with such reckless abandon. I anticipated that they would look into it a little bit and identify the agency that made the arrest.
“I have just arrived in Nigeria from the USA at MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me,” Sowore had wrote following his arrest.
“I have always known that this is a part of the larger clampdown, so this is not surprising.” It was said that Sowore was freed shortly after his apprehension.
Sowore said that he had been freed by the Nigerian Immigration Service and that his passport had also been released in a post made on his official X account.
“My passport was released back to me and I was just released by Nigerian Immigration after a short detention,” he added.
Amidst all of this, on Sunday the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) ordered a quick investigation into video evidence that went viral and claimed that a Naval rating named Abbas Haruna had been wrongfully imprisoned for six years without going to trial. Additionally, the DHQ stated that the new order was a reaction to the accusation.
The probe was ordered on Sunday night by Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, who also guaranteed that the results will be made public in due time, according to a statement released by Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Acting Director, Defence Information.
“DHQ has taken notice of a circulating video clip alleging the unjust incarceration of a Naval rating, Seaman Abbas Haruna, for six years. The DHQ, assured the public that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to upholding justice, fairness, and the rule of law,” Gusau said.
He claimed that even if it is laborious, the military court-martial process guarantees justice, equity, and fairness in compliance with the law and established military protocols.
While the investigation is underway, the DHQ asked the public to use care and refrain from disseminating unverified information, reassuring Nigerians that the Armed Forces will guarantee a prompt and transparent probe.