The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied that its operatives ‘invaded’ the Lagos State House of Assembly complex Monday morning – today, February 17 – as widely reported by the media, explaining that, in reality, it deployed its personnel at the Lagos State House of Assembly earlier today at the instance of the leadership of the House who had formally written to the agency for its operatives to provide security at the conference.
The request for security, the DSS explained, is contained in a letter dated 14th February, 2025, and signed by one A.T.B. Ottun, acting clerk of the house.
In the said letter, the Assembly management told Security Agencies in Lagos that there was credible information to forcefully reinstate the impeached Speaker of the State Assembly on the 18th February, 2025.
This move, the Assembly management said, posed “a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.”
The letter, with reference number
LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323 and signed by the Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. A. T. B. Ottun, was addressed to the DSS Director in the State, as well as the heads of other security agencies in Lagos State.
The letter Entitled “URGENT: ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES FOR LSHA PREMISES, the Acting Clerk wrote: “I wish to bring to your attention a pressing matter that requires immediate action.
“The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of
Assembly plans to resume office on the 18th of February, 2025, as the Speaker, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.”
“In light of this situation,” continued the Clerk, “we kindly request that you take necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises with effect from Sunday, 16 February, 2025 by increasing the presence
of your men as well observe strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises till further notice.”
“We look forward to your prompt attention Sir.
Thank you”.
The operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the police invaded the premises of the Lagos State House of Assembly in the early hours of Monday.
According to reports, the DSS operatives sealed the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her deputy and clerk of the house.
It was gathered that armed security personnel took over the premises at Alausa, Ikeja at about 10 am and passersby were frisked away.
Meranda and her convoy reportedly arrived at about 11.15 am.
