The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued legal warnings to two prominent broadcast stations, Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television, following what the agency describes as “false and malicious reports” concerning the DSS’s involvement in the recent crisis at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The controversy began after DSS operatives, alongside the Nigeria Police, were deployed to the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday amid a leadership tussle. Reports by AIT and Channels TV suggested that the DSS had stormed or invaded the Assembly, an assertion that has now drawn the ire of the security agency.
In response, the DSS, through its legal representative, Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, has sent letters to both stations dated February 17, 2025. These letters claim that the reports misrepresented the DSS’s role, which was to support existing security measures at the Assembly following an official invitation from the House itself.
The situation escalated from fears that the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, was planning a forceful return to office, prompting the Assembly to seek additional security. A letter dated February 14, 2025, from the Acting Clerk of the Assembly to the DSS, explicitly requested enhanced security measures from February 16 to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
The DSS’s letters to the broadcast stations demand an immediate retraction of the “defamatory” publications and a public apology to be broadcast five times daily for three consecutive days across all platforms, including social media. The agency warns of both civil and criminal legal action under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act if these demands are not met within seven days.
The DSS has accused the stations of broadcasting without verifying the facts, thereby tarnishing the agency’s image and portraying it as an “irresponsible and reckless entity” that invaded the Assembly with “Gestapo” tactics. This narrative, according to the DSS, not only misinforms the public but also undermines the agency’s statutory mandate to maintain national security and uphold criminal laws.
The Lagos Assembly, on the other hand, has condemned what it describes as an “invasion” by DSS operatives, with lawmakers calling for investigations and explanations from the DSS leadership. There’s been significant public and political discourse around the issue, with some seeing it as an infringement on legislative independence, while others argue it was a necessary security measure.
This incident has sparked a broader debate on media freedom, the accuracy of journalism, and the balance between security operations and democratic processes in Nigeria. Critics argue that the media must exercise caution and ensure balanced reporting, especially in sensitive security contexts, while supporters of press freedom emphasize the need for transparency and accountability from government agencies.
As this legal standoff unfolds, the implications for media practices, state security protocols, and the relationship between government bodies and the press in Nigeria are likely to be significant. The outcome of this dispute could set precedents for how security operations are covered by the media and how government agencies respond to what they perceive as misrepresentations.
