The Department of State Services has produced alive, Afolabi Akanni, the Ekiti lawmaker alleged to have died in custody.
This allegation was made on Thursday, at a news conference convened by the Ekiti state commissioner for information, youth, sports and culture, Lanre Ogunsuyi.
“Information reaching us indicates that one of the abducted members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Afolabi Akanni, has died in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Significantly, since his illegal detention, he has been held incommunicado without access to his family members, doctors and lawyers.”
“We call on the DSS to immediately clarify the situation as to the status (dead or alive) of Hon. Afolabi Akanni, representing Efon Constituency, by producing him physically for all Nigerians, particularly his immediate family to see. While we are waiting for the DSS, we urge every resident of Ekiti State, particularly the people of his immediate constituency in Efon, to remain calm.””
Responding to the demands of the Ekiti state government, the DSS produced Akanni to some journalists at the agency’s headquarters.
Akanni was notably frail and weak, reports TheCable, whose journalist got to see him.
Abdullahi Garba, speaking on behalf of the DSS, said that Akanni was arrested for some serious breaches bordering on state security.
“You may have been aware of the recent situation in Ekiti state in which the DSS was accused of abducting the state assembly legislators.”
“The fact is that one of the members of the assembly Hon Akanni Afolabi was duly invited by the service over some serious breaches bordering on state security, and for which he has some explanations to make. These breaches fall under the purview of the DSS to investigate.”
“This press conference has become necessary in order to debunk a rumour which is being dangerously spread in Ekiti state by some mischief makers to the effect that Afolabi has died in custody. Nigerians and Ekiti people in particular are convinced to see that Afolabi is hale and hearty as he is being presented to the press today.”
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