SSS parades ‘dead’ Ekiti lawmaker

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.

FLASH: Afolabi Akanni, the Ekiti state assembly lawmaker in DSS custody is alive but sick. pic.twitter.com/XDmbnPxdlj

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) March 17, 2016

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.”