The State Security Service, SSS, has refuted an online report claiming that it had sought a court order to arrest the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu.
The SSS Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Friday, said the attention of the Services was drawn to a 5th January, 2023 online publication by the Daily Trust in which it reported that “Court Stops DSS from Arresting INEC Chairman”.
According to him, the newspaper skewed what transpired at the Court and reported it out of context.
The SSS spokesperson noted that the outfit, which though argued that what was reported in its online version was different from the hard copy, promised to address the concerns raised but did not.
“This statement, however, becomes important to guide public understanding and perception, especially since the said report is misleading. It falsely left an impression that the Service went to Court against the INEC Chairman.
“Nonetheless, the Service is aware of the antics of some mischievous elements who are desirous of fomenting crisis in the country, including creating unnecessary controversies around the forthcoming general elections.
“One of their strategies is to subvert the efforts of the Service in ensuring peaceful coexistence and harmony.
“Another is a determination to overheat the polity and subtly exploit the judiciary to distract or even undermine not only the Service but other security and law enforcement agencies from undertaking their constitutional roles.
The SSS, therefore, warned these individuals and groups to desist from their devious plans, advising all critical stakeholders to be vigilant and resist attempts to use them to thwart the law.
The Service assured Nigerians and the International Community of its commitment to the maintenance of law and order, including an accomplishment of a free and fair 2023 election as already pledged by President Muhammadu Buhari.
