Lai Mohammed
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said that the State Security Service (SSS) carried out another raid on its data center in Lagos yesterday night.
It would be recalled that during the November incident, the data agents and security guards were arrested by the operatives who stormed the premises without the search warrant.
The security officials insisted that the service received a petition that the building was being used to clone INEC voter card, which forced them to check the information.
Meanwhile the APC characterized the move as an attempt to intimidate their party ahead of the 2015 elections.
The situation causes hot discussions among the Nigerians and in the political circles.
Today, December 2, the security officers raided the office once again, Premium Times reports with reference to the APC statement issued by the party National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed in Abuja.
“The raid by over 40 armed DSS officers, despite a court order restraining the service from such action, shows that the DSS considers itself to be above the laws of the land, and this is totally condemnable.
“Even under a PDP government that has nothing but contempt for constitutional order, the lack of respect for a court order by an institution of state like the DSS has plumbed the depth of anomie, and shows that our democracy is in clear and present danger from anarchists.”
The party disclosed that the operatives shoved the security personnel at the building aside, broke into the storage facility and carted away over 30 bags filled with the APC membership registration forms.
“It is sensible to conclude that the DSS’ second raid was its own crude reaction to the challenge we posed to it. Apparently yet to find any evidence of PVC cloning as alleged by the DSS, it is now quite desperate to manufacture evidence to justify its raids. Or how else does one explain the claim by the service that its ‘findings’ will shock Nigerians, even at a time it is still in search of evidence? Is this how self-respecting intelligence agencies conduct their operations?”
The APC described such behaviour as “harassment” of the party lamenting that instead of directing effort at fight against terrorism the intelligence is used to “terrorize” the opposition.
“It is time to call the DSS to order, and to remind those at the helms of affairs that while they may be having a free rein today, they will one day rue their actions at this critical time in our nation’s history.”
The APC recalled that according to the November 26 court order the DSS were not allowed to seal off the data centre. According to them, the DSS now were acting as if they were above the law.
The party blamed the lack of legislative order on the years of ruling of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The Lagos chapter of the APC confirmed the development warning that such actions by the security agencies might seriously damage “our hard earned democracy”.
“Despite the public outcry and opprobrium that followed Saturday November 22 invasion of APC Data Centre in Lagos and a Court order asking DSS to release those arrested, 40 DSS officers returned yesterday night to further vandalize the office and took away 30 bags containing vital documents. This frightening and fragrant display of impunity, brute force and disobedience of Court order portends grave danger to our now fragile polity and it may brutally affect the 2015 General elections if the ruling party, police or DSS are not called to order.”
They once again inquired why the DSS had not come up with any “findings” after the first raid but still keep the APC’s documentation.
“We are still at a loss that more than two weeks after the first invasion, DSS has not told the world what its findings are, why it is still detaining workers of the Data Centre, and why it is still keeping the APC computers and vital documents.”
The Lagos chapter however urged the party supporters to remain calm in the face of the provocations and concluded the statement as follows.
“We shall overcome. We will defeat impunity. We will defeat political corruption. We will defeat abuse of power and political brigandage. We will liberate Nigeria in the fullness of time. When a drowning man is holding on to something he may never let go until his hands are cut off.”
Meanwhile it was reported yesterday that a Lagos Federal High Court ordered the release of 5 APC staff members detained during the first raid.
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