Drama As el-Rufai Storms SSS Headquarters — January 28, 2014 It was like a drama scene when the entourage of the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, arrived at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) about 9:25am Monday to formally present himself for questioning as requested by the security agency. As early as 7am, a group of journalists representing different media organisations had stormed el-Rufai’s residence on a tip-off that the deputy national secretary was ready to visit the SSS, following the latter’s desperate search for him throughout the weekend. On arrival at a pointan a few meters away from the main entrance where men of the SSS had blocked with concrete slabs, all occupants of the vehicles conveying the dignitaries to the office were ordered to disembark and identify themselves. Mallam el-Rufai, the main target, needed not identify himself, neither did Rotimi Amaechi and Chris Ngige. However, the stern–looking men in black hoods did not care about the status of anybody and ordered everybody else apart from el- Rufai and his wife to stand out. At that point, things turned dramatic. The governor. (Amaechi) asked if there was no more freedom of speech in Nigeria. He went further to ask if it was all about the freedom of speech concept of former Ugandan president, Idi Amin Dada, who said, “I can guarantee freedom of speech, but what I cannot guarantee is freedom after speech.” Amaechi was however allowed to go in with el- Rufai, but Ngige was not, until he told the aggressive SSS men that he was detailed to stand in for the bail of Mallam el-Rufai. With the scenario getting more chaotic and all the party delegations in solidarity with him kept off, el-Rufai in anger went after one of the SSS officers said to be keeping the warrant got from the court and virtually snatched the brown envelope containing the document from him. It was not until his lawyer, A U Mustapha, came and made some explanations that he let go of the envelope, saying he had made up his mind to present himself for whatever question. The SSS had last Thursday invited el- Rufai to their office to explain his statement, which the agency said was inciting and capable of breaching public peace. El-Rufai had declined the invitation, insisting that the security agency obtain a warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction before he could honour the invitation. The SSS on Friday secured a warrant to arrest the former minister and stormed two of his homes same day purportedly to serve the said warrant. It was alleged that when the security operatives could not find their victim, they attempted to force their way into his Maitama residence in search of him. The search, however, continued till Monday morning when Mallam el-Rufai in the company of the Rivers State governor, Amaechi; Nigige, APC candidate in the Anambra gubernatorial elections last November; APC national secretary Tijani Tumsa; secretary to the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Osita Okechukwu; and other party officials in solidarity with him went to meet them in their office. Addressing journalists in front of his residence, el- Rufai said he decided to decline the invitation from the SSS because he could have been compelled to go to their office without following the due process. “There was no way I would have honoured that invitation. So I demanded they bring a warrant from the court. They produced the warrant and showed to my lawyer and they agreed that we will be there this morning. I believe the SSS has no power to compel me to come to their office over a statement that I have the right under the constitution to make,” he explained. According to el-Rufai, the real reason he was not disposed to responding to the invitation by the SSS was his experience in Awka. “I was unlawfully detained by this security agency in a hotel in Awka last November. So, I took them to court. That, I believe, is the reason they are after me. The statement I made was based on historical facts. It is not a statement not backed up with past historical records. I said elections should be free and fair, otherwise there will be likelihood of violence. “This is evident in our history. Look back at 1964, 1983, 1993 and 2011. So, what is there that people do not know already? Anybody that does not know is either ignorant of history or is ignoring history. This is all politics. It is all about 2015. It is all about intimidating the opposition to silence them. It is against crying out that the elections are likely to be rigged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “I will continue to cry out and they will continue to arrest me until we get free and fair elections in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, Rivers State governor Amaechi has called on all Nigerians in the opposition camp to expect more harassment as the ruling party, according to him, will not willingly cede power to anybody. “PDP cannot cede power to anybody just like that. They will use everything in their power to fight against anyone who wants to take power from them, and this is one of the institutions they will use to fight anybody that stands on their way,” he said. About 1pm, Governor Amaechi left the SSS Headquarters and was said to have been excused by the security agency to attend to matters arising in his state. About two and half hours later, while the release of Mallam el-Rufai was being expected, Chris Ngige left the premises on the excuse that he was going to keep an appointment that he had scheduled earlier. As at the time of filiing this report, nothing had been heard about the possible release of Mallam el-Rufai by the SSS. Unofficial sources said the man may be released late in the night with serious warnings. The source said the SSS was not happy that they did not arrest him on Friday when they would have detained him until Monday, on the excuse that bails are not allowed on Fridays, to teach him a lesson of his life. As it stands, relations, party chieftains, friends and well-wishers are eagerly waiting to hear the news of his release.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 08:01:44 +0000
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