Senate Summons DSS Director Over Alleged Interference In The Proceedings At The Rivers State Election Tribunal.

THE Senate yesterday, summoned the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS),Lawal Daura, over alleged interference in the proceedings at the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal. He is to appear today before the Senate Ethics and Public petitions. Beyond the appearance of the DSS boss, the committee was mandated by the Red Chamber to investigate the entire allegation that the security outfit was interfering in the activities of the election tribunal.

 

The decision to probe the DSS followed a petition to the Senate by the Rivers State House of Assembly referred to the committee last week. The petition, which was signed by the 31 members of the House of Assembly, alleged among others, that the DSS had arrested some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the Election Petition Tribunal, and subjected them to serious intimidation, harassment and coercion, to compromise the judicial independence of the Tribunal and pervert the cause of justice. Speaking at the commencement of the committee’s sitting yesterday, its Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East Senatorial Distict), warned all parties involved in the matter against unnecessary delay, adding that the Senate would want prompt response to invitations and questions raised during the investigation.

 

The committee said it would pay serious attention to allegations of abuse of office implied in the petition against the DSS, even as it called on the petitioners to provide specific details on the petition, to assist the committee.

 

He said: “The issue of independence of the judiciary is a very serious pillar in the dispensation of justice. That is why the committee takes the allegation of intimidation of Tribunal members very seriously, because if the judiciary is intimidated, then the independence is compromised. So, we want all details about this allegation supplied to the committee without delay.”

 

Giving reasons for the petition, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Ikuinyi- Owaji Ibani, who was accompanied by other members of the House, stated that INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs. Gesila Khan, and other senior officials of the commission had also been arrested and detained by the DSS in Abuja.

 

He declared: “We make bold to say that they lack the power or the authority to invite any judicial officer serving in the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal for questioning concerning their handling of election petitions pending before them, based on some purported petitions from interested parties.

 

“While we commend the stance and efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to instill discipline, strengthen institutions of State and deepen democratic values, where all Nigerians will have equal opportunities, we are appalled by their present clandestine and surreptitious moves aimed at derailing an efficient, transparent and unbiased justice delivery system and thereby, bringing the judiciary into disrepute, public ridicule and odium.

 

“In embarking on this condemnable mission, the DSS purports to be acting on some pre-arranged petitions from persons, who are directly interested in the outcome of the various election petitions from Rivers State.” Source: Sun