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AIT, Channels TV Apologize To DSS Over Lagos Assembly Crisis Report
Two of Nigeria’s leading television stations, Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television, have publicly apologized to the Department of State Services (DSS) over their reports on the agency’s involvement in the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis on February 17, 2025.
The apologies come after the DSS threatened legal action against both media houses, accusing them of publishing false and misleading reports about its presence at the Assembly complex.
READ MORE: Who Ordered DSS? Lagos Assembly Denies Requesting Security Takeover
The security agency had demanded a retraction and a public apology to be aired for three consecutive days.
AIT, during its News Hour program, clarified that its initial report was based on eyewitness accounts but admitted that the information was incomplete and misrepresented the DSS’s role.
“AIT News wishes to apologize to the DSS for the news item broadcast on Monday, 17th February 2025. Our reporting was based on eyewitness accounts obtained from sources at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“However, we recognize that the report may have been incomplete and unintentionally misrepresented the service. We regret any embarrassment this may have caused,” the station stated.
Channels Television also offered an apology during its political affairs program, Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.
Okinbaloye acknowledged that the situation had been misinterpreted, as initial video footage suggested the DSS had stormed the Assembly uninvited, when in fact, its presence was requested by the Clerk of the House for security purposes.
“It came to light that the Clerk of the Lagos Assembly had formally requested the DSS’s presence at the House of Assembly. But if you look at the video, it was made to appear as though the lawmakers were fighting to get inside and were shocked that DSS was there,” he said.
“I think it’s right to apologize to the service to say the use of ‘invasion’ might not be the right word to use because it was portrayed as though the DSS invaded, they were not invited, but it came to light that there was no decency in how they carried out their work.”
“In the real sense of it, it happened that they invited the DSS. I think an apology is right to be placed on the doorstep of the DSS to say the use of ‘invasion’ is probably not the right word to use and not to demean the role and the effort of the DSS. That was not the right word to use,” he added.
The DSS had earlier refuted claims that its operatives engaged in any unlawful activities at the Assembly complex, insisting that their role was simply to support existing security forces.
Speaking on the issue, former DSS Assistant Director-General, Muhammed Ngoshe, who was a guest on Politics Today, welcomed the apologies but stressed the need for an official communication to the security agency.
A lawsuit has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The legal action seeks to nullify his appointment and bar the President from making similar decisions in other states.
The suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, was initiated on Tuesday by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who argues that the appointment violates Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, is listed as the 1st defendant, while the Attorney-General of the Federation, Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd.), and the Attorneys-General of the 36 states are named as the 2nd to 39th defendants.
Jideobi is urging the court to declare all decisions made by Ibas in his capacity as Sole Administrator unconstitutional and of no effect.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Swears In Ibas As Rivers Sole Administrator
He is also seeking an order preventing the President from appointing Sole Administrators in any state across Nigeria.
Through a team of lawyers led by Chimezie Enuka, the plaintiff is asking the court to rule on the following:
“Whether the President has the constitutional power to remove, suspend, or interfere with the tenure of an elected governor or deputy governor.
“Whether the suspension of the Rivers State Governor and Deputy Governor on March 18, 2025, was lawful.
“Whether the Constitution permits the appointment of a Sole Administrator to govern a state.
Jideobi contends that the only lawful means of removing a governor are outlined in Sections 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution, none of which provide for the appointment of a Sole Administrator.
The plaintiff is asking the court to: overturn the suspension of the Rivers State Governor and Deputy Governor, Invalidate the appointment and swearing-in of Ibas as Sole Administrator, Order Ibas to immediately vacate the Government House in Rivers State and Issue an injunction stopping the President from appointing Sole Administrators in any Nigerian state.
In a 32-paragraph affidavit, Jideobi insists that Nigeria operates a federal system of government, where elected governors are not subject to presidential removal.
“As a lawyer, I have never seen the term ‘Sole Administrator’ in the 1999 Constitution,” he asserted.
He further argued that allowing the President to make such appointments could set a dangerous precedent, potentially leading to political instability in the country.
No hearing date has been scheduled yet.
The Senate has confirmed Sylvester Nwakuche as the new Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on December 13, 2024.
His appointment comes after the retirement of Haliru Nababa.
The confirmation was finalized during Tuesday’s plenary session after the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, submitted its report.
READ MORE: 12 Inmates Escape Kogi Prison, Authorities Launch Manhunt
Lawmakers unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation, officially endorsing Nwakuche’s leadership of the NCoS.
Announcing the confirmation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged Nwakuche to take urgent steps to enhance the security of correctional facilities across the country.
“We hope that under your leadership, the era of frequent jailbreaks in the country will come to an end,” Akpabio stated.
This call for improved security comes in the wake of a recent jailbreak at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton Karfe, Kogi State, where 12 inmates escaped in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the death of one correctional officer.
Suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwem Imasuen, who currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
In her submission to the LPDC, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Imasuen of being previously disbarred in the United States for professional misconduct.
She cited a ruling from the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, dated May 10, 2010, which she claims found him guilty of fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities.
READ ALSO: I’ll Never Apologise – Suspended Senator Natasha Fights Back
To substantiate her claims, the senator provided a copy of the Justia New York Case Law 2010, titled Matter of Imasuen, and stated that she would present additional evidence from official records when the case is heard.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Imasuen was disbarred after a complaint was lodged by Daphne Slyfield, a former client who had allegedly paid him significant legal fees but was later abandoned.
The US court determined that he had violated multiple professional rules, leading to his permanent removal from legal practice in the country.
Following his disbarment, Imasuen moved to Nigeria, where he continued to operate as a lawyer while also building a political career.
He eventually won a seat in the National Assembly as the Senator representing Edo South and was later appointed as the chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, a position that requires unquestionable integrity.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argues that Imasuen failed to disclose this crucial part of his history, both in his legal career and during his political aspirations.
She specifically pointed out that he did not reveal his disbarment in his Form EC9—his sworn declaration of personal details submitted to INEC during his election bid.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition is closely linked to her recent six-month suspension from the Senate, which was enforced under Imasuen’s leadership.
She alleged that Imasuen ignored an interim order from the Federal High Court in Abuja, issued on March 4, which had restrained his committee from proceeding with disciplinary action against her.
According to her, despite receiving the court’s directive, Imasuen “acted in contempt of court” by going ahead with her suspension. She also accused him of deliberately attempting to undermine the judiciary by disregarding the ruling.
Legal experts suggest that if the LPDC rules in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s favor, Imasuen could face serious professional and political consequences, including the potential revocation of his ability to practice law in Nigeria.
As of now, Senator Imasuen has not publicly responded to the allegations.
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