Recently, the Department of State Services came under fire from about five major newspapers for some sort of bashing. Vanguard, Daily Trust, The Sun, The Tribune, and The are some of the newspapers that have used their platforms to express a variety of opinions about how the service operates. The Daily Trust editorial, “The DSS must conduct its duties as a secret service,” was published on June 6, 2023, while Vanguard’s article on June 2, 2023 was titled “Dousing the DSS/EFCC feud.” The Sun published on June 7. The Tribune wrote on June 8, 2023, “The EFCC/DSS confrontation,” while The Washington Post wrote on “The needless DSS/EFCC fracas.” In a similar vein, T “DSS, others need radical reforms” on June 14, 2023 It did not appear that the editorials calling for DSS reform or criticising it for its public statements or actions on a variety of national security-related topics were accidental or coincidental in any way. It appeared perfectly manicured or organised. It appears to be a hatchet job. The claim that the service is too widely accessible or pervasive was off-base. The newspapers displayed bias and patterns that were predictable.
In addition, a number of well-known lawyers, including Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Femi Falana, SAN, expressed the opinion that the service goes beyond its authority, particularly in relation to the investigation of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The service isn’t allowed to comment further on this situation because it’s now a court case. It is unnecessary to celebrate the announcement of a court order granting his family and solicitors access to him. He was never refused entry. His family and medical personnel have had continuous access to him ever since he was taken into custody. It is incorrect to believe that the service will take action at the court’s direction. By the way, this.
Come back to the topic at hand. While it may be acceptable to acknowledge that the news media and the aforementioned figures have a right to their opinions, deliberate ignorance predominated in their arguments. First, they neglected to acknowledge that security threats and management strategies are constantly changing. It’s instructive to note that, like many other nations, the security environment in Nigeria has grown more complex and dynamic. Unquestionably, tactics to handle threats to national security now include the periodic release of press statements to inform or support citizens and residents. A thorough investigation would have shown the detractors that similar strategies are used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and other international intelligence services, including sporadic statements and advisories. The CIA posts demographic data on its website to give the general public useful information and data about various populations to improve understanding of various geographic areas and communities. Does this imply that the CIA is acting outside of its purview? Or will that be tolerated because the CIA is an outside agency?
The requirement that agencies manage national security and intelligence in a way that is responsive, transparent, and aware of taxpayers has evolved into a universal standard. Security and intelligence accountability is what it is called. The foundational principles of security and intelligence governance call for agencies to maintain their democratic compliance, transparency, and accountability. Throughout the world, intelligence services operate in ways and ways that are difficult for the uninitiated to understand. The institutionalisation of democracy as the preferred political culture has nevertheless compelled such organisations to engage the public frequently in communication. You can see how the public pronouncements are always appropriate. Threat reduction may continue to be a herculean task for security agencies without public awareness and support. These organisations must operate openly even when some of their operations are secret because democratic subordination and legislative oversight are fundamental principles that require them to do so. Do your research on the USA, the UK, France, Canada, and other developed democracies. This degree of transparency doesn’t invalidate the anticipated secrecy or jeopardise their operations in any way.
Both organisations have denied allegations of competition regarding the DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. It is crucial to remember that comparing the May 30, 2023 incident at 15 Awolowo Road in Lagos to the National Assembly barricade in 2018 is unfair and inaccurate due to the significant differences between the nature and circumstances of the two incidents. While highlighting inter-agency relationships and cooperation is important, it would be unfair to generalise and imply that the service and the EFCC are at odds and in a power struggle. Every agency functions according to its unique mandate and environment.
The editorials, meanwhile, correctly referred to the DSS’s legitimacy as an intelligence agency for identifying, averting, and neutralising threats against Nigeria. They praised the service for its dedication to preserving the nation’s security as well as the numerous accomplishments it had made while performing its duties. Thank you very much. It is important to realise that the service is more than just an intelligence agency. It serves as a law enforcement body as well. It serves as a policy and security advisory body. It is expected to prevent by its establishment law. Unquestionably, to prevent is to impose. Before sending out agents and equipment to carry out its work, should the service ask the media for endorsement or permission? Should it instead play to the crowd? The DSS’s activities may never be fully explained or understood, especially to those who do not need to know, which is typical of intelligence operating systems.
There are thousands of undercover personnel and operations that have no business becoming public, despite the fact that some of its top officials and operations are known and their veil of secrecy has been lifted. It is predicted to stay that way. The DSS is perfectly within its rights to open an investigation into any pertinent matter given its broad mandate and legal authority to look into crimes with regard to national security. The primary responsibility of the DSS is to identify and stop crimes and threats to Nigeria’s internal security. More importantly, it is to take on any additional duties that the President and Commander-in-Chief may delegate to it. It is instructive for some media outlets, attorneys, and other interested parties to understand this DSS function. The rule of law serves as the foundation for the service. Its operations are governed by rules. It obtains arrest and detention warrants as necessary when required.
Because it does not imply anything different that such instruments are not advertised. Critics should become knowledgeable about the law and the rules of engagement and stop misleading, inciting, or misinforming the public. Those attempting to undermine the service through deliberate reforms might be leading a fruitless search. Attacking it repeatedly on the basis of ignorance, unrealized interests, and emotional evaluations and judgements is detrimental to the nation. The DSS has defended Nigeria so vehemently. It will keep happening.
The investigations into Messrs. Emefiele and (ex-EFCC chairman) Abdulrasheed Bawa, among other baseless matters, will undoubtedly lead to an increase in malicious articles, criticisms, and baseless attacks in the public sphere given the warped mentality that has motivated these writings. It is inevitable that some individuals and groups will make baseless claims about the service and its leaders. These organisations may also use disloyal service members to spread lies, propaganda, and hate in an effort to harm the organization’s reputation. Given their ability to mobilise forces against the government and its top officials and their reach, the adversaries may be planning to obstruct the ongoing investigations as ordered by the C-in-C. The service, however, will not jeopardise its professionalism in exchange for meagre criticism or carry out its duties with bias or trepidation.
Because the omnibus powers of the President, as stated in the SSS and NSA enabling Acts, are not taken seriously by those who argue that the DSS has no business looking into the matters raised. Fubara Duke, a former director of the DSS, made the following argument: “When a law confers on the President power to delegate ANY assignments he deems fit for a particular agency to perform, I wonder how it falls outside the purview of (ANY) the stipulations of the President’s powers and, by extension, why the DSS is being faulted for carrying out the President’s directive.”
“I have heard arguments about cases being dismissed by courts due to disputed prosecutorial powers of the DSS regarding some categories of cases, including criminal cases,” he continued. Without limiting the wisdom of the court’s decision on such judgements, they shouldn’t supersede the DSS’s legitimate investigative authority. These decisions would be properly assessed should there be a need for prosecution in the future, and where/if necessary, appropriate prosecutorial agencies, such as the Attorney General’s Office or other sister agencies, could be deployed to bring charges. This has happened previously, so it’s not brand new.
But let it be known that the DSS will continue to perform its duties with professionalism and steadfastness. It pledges once more to operate scrupulously within the bounds of the law and to defend the fundamental rights of every Nigerian. As the fifth estate of the government, the media must continue to be fair, accurate, impartial, and responsible. Maintaining a deliberate campaign of public misdirection through any misunderstandings is harmful to nationhood. Therefore, seeking authenticity is not only morally required but also necessary to deepen the expected contributions. It shouldn’t be unreasonable to ask for that.
