DSS Lawal Daura
The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied its operatives uncovered a huge sum of money and weapons in the house of its sacked Director General (DG), Mr. Lawal Daura.
DSS said that the rumour emanated from some fake videos which it said were circulated as being the outcome of a search allegedly carried out in Daura’s house.
DSS spokesperson, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, in a statement on Monday, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation that N21bn and an unspecified number of Permanent Voter Cards were found in Daura’s houses.
The videos, which Opuiyo had described as fake, gave an impression that the search was conducted at the residence of the former DG in both Abuja and Daura, Katsina State.
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The spokesman for the agency said that there was no search carried out in the home of Daura by any security agency.
Opuiyo said,
“The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to the circulation of fake information and videos in which several items were said to have been recovered from the Katsina and Abuja homes of its immediate past Director General, Lawal Daura.
“These non-existent items include N21bn cash, 400 assorted and sophisticated small arms and light weapons/rifles, and thousands of Permanent Voter Cards belonging to Niger Republic immigrants.
“In another video also in circulation, some persons believed to be personnel of a security outfit were seen forcing open safes stocked with money.
“The security operatives were described as executing a recovery operation at the Katsina home of the former DG.
“Consequently, the Service wishes to inform the public that these videos are false and should be disregarded.
“So far, no such recovery operations have been undertaken by the EFCC or any other security agency at DSS’ office or residences of the former DG.
“There is no doubt that different interests have continued to give varied accounts of the incident of last week at the National Assembly.
“It may, however, be recalled that the Presidency had pledged to carry out a detailed investigation regarding the alleged National Assembly siege.”
Opuiyo asked members of the public to exercise restraint in their narration of events and as such, to desist from spreading fake news or engaging in activities that he said might mislead or further cause a breach of the peace as well as preempt the outcome of investigations.
Earlier, the Peoples Democratic Party had accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of keeping silent over the alleged discovery of the PVCs in Daura’s house.
A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, had charged the National Assembly to immediately commence an investigation into the veracity of the allegation.
