The Department of State Services (DSS) has accused two television stations, Africa Independent Television (AIT) of DAAR Communications Plc and Channels Television, of airing reports that are allegedly false, defamatory, and malicious in nature regarding its activities.
The agency indicated that these inaccurate reports were related to the presence of its personnel at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday.
Through its counsel, Chief Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), the DSS has called for a retraction and a public apology to be issued within a period of seven days, threatening to pursue both criminal and civil actions against the television stations should they fail to comply.
In a letter, dated February 17, 2025, titled: “False, Defamatory and Malicious Publication Concerning the State Security Service (or DSS) Regarding Their Presence at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday February 17, 2025,” Adedipe said the DSS (SSS) denied allegations it invaded the Assembly and attempted to prevent the members of the Assembly and Speaker Mojisola Meranda from entering the chamber for plenary.
The secret police insisted that it was duly invited through a letter by the Deputy Clerk to support the security operatives attached to the Assembly in order to forestall an imminent breakdown of law and order.
“However, without any verification of the reason for the presence of our client’s officials at the Lagos State House of Assembly on February 17, 2025, your organisation maliciously and falsely broadcast, both on your news bulletin and print media, that our client had invaded/stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly with a view to preventing the members and speaker from entering the chamber for plenary.
“By this publication, our client, which is a highly responsible and respected organisation, was portrayed as an irresponsible and reckless organisation, which, in a Gestapo manner, invaded/stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to support one of the feuding parties and to desecrate the hallowed chambers.