Emefiele: DSS says we won’t fall for propaganda

***says protesters on a wild goose chase

Department of State Services (DSS) has said it would not succumb to intimidation and propaganda by individuals or groups on matters of national security.

The secret police also said it won’t give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.

Spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunanya stated this in a statement on Monday night.

Though Afunanya didn’t mention the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Godwin Emefiele, it was probably in response to the protest by some Human rights lawyers, Civil Society Organisations, including Arewa Youth Consultative Movement who raised an alarm over an alleged plot by the DSS to frame Emefiele on terrorism sponsorship against Nigeria.

The CSOs operating under the auspices of the Coalition of National Interest Defenders had alleged that to achieve the aim of getting Emefiele arrested, the DSS has secretly instituted a court action against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Describing the alleged action of the DSS as a strange development in the history of the country, the group demanded the immediate sack of the Director General of the DSS to prevent him from setting the country ablaze.

Addressing a joint world press conference on Monday in Abuja, the Convener of the Coalition, Tochukwu Ohazuruike said that the Security agency filed a Motion in Court accusing the CBN governor of terrorism financing and other crimes it described as economic crimes of national security dimension.

But Afunanya said the DSS had always discharged its responsibilities in the overall interest of Nigerian citizens, adding that the Service will continue to disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment.

He said: “While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased. It will not, by any means, succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it. It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.

“Given not to join issues, the Service warns those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions. Similarly, it urges members of the public to disregard the vituperations and rantings of misguided elements and not allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.

“Notably, these elements should remember the famous axiom that “you will only deceive some people, some of the time, but not all people, all the time”. To put it succinctly, the Service will not be distracted by persons and/or groups from carrying out its duties to the Nation, citizens, President and Commander-in-Chief. Citizens are, therefore, urged to avoid being used to thwart or undermine the Service and its lawful investigations as those who wish to act in the breach will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”