Detained Ekiti Lawmaker Dead in DSS Custody –Ekiti State Govt Alleges

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, March 17th, 2016

Ayodele Afolabi, Ado Ekiti

A very dangerous dimension was on Thursday added to the crisis between the Department of State Security, DSS and the Ekiti State government, as the State government alleged that the detained lawmaker, Hon Afolabi Akanni has died in custody.

Briefing reporters at the government house, the commissioner for Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi who was flanked by with the Ekiti State Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, the Attorney General, Owoseni Ajayi among others, said that information at the disposal of the State government pointed to the fact that the detained lawmaker was dead.

Ogunsuyi said that since the lawmaker’s detention, he has remained incommunicado adding that, he has been without access to his family members, doctors and lawyers.

“Information reaching us indicates that one of the abducted members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Afolabi Akanni has died in the custody of the Department of the State Security Service.

“It will be recalled that the honourable member has been unlawfully incarcerated in DSS custody since March 4, 2016. A court order directing his release since March 11, 2016 was ignored by the DSS.”

The information commissioner therefore called on the DSS to immediately clarify the situation as to the status of the lawmaker whether dead or alive by producing him physically for all Nigerians, particularly his family to see.

On how the State government was able to confirm the death of the lawmaker, Ogunsuyi said that “we have our own channel of information. We heard that he developed an ailment in the night and died this morning “.

He however urged the people of Ekiti State, particularly the constituents of the lawmaker to remain calm and law abiding.

It would be recalled that Akanni who was arrested on March 4 and taken to Abuja for undisclosed reason, had gone to court through his lawyers, Barristers Adewale and Bunmi Olugbade, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution.