DSS invasion: Detained Ekiti lawmaker is dead – Ekiti govt. cries out

The alleged invasion of the State House of Assembly by men of the Department of State Services reached a feverish pitch on Thursday, as government of Ekiti State broke a sad news that a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon Afolabi Akanni has died in the custody of the security agency.

Akanni, representing Efon constituency , was arrested on March 4, when the DSS allegedly invaded the Assembly for undisclosed reason.

He was immediately whisked to Abuja where he had since been detained, in spite of the ruling of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo , ordering the DSS to either release him with immediate effect or produce him in court on Wednesday, March 16.

At an emergency press conference in Ado Ekiti by Information Commissioner, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, the government insisted that the lawmaker developed an ailment midnight of Thursday and died at dawn.

Those that addressed the conference include: The speaker of the Assembly, Hon Kola Oluwawole, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ajayi Owoseeni, Special Assistant on Communications to the governor, Lere Olayinka and Akanni’s lawyer, Barr Obafemi Adewale.

Ogunsuyi said: “We call on the DSS to immediately clarify the
situation as to the status( dead or alive) of Hon Akanni by producing him physically for all Nigerians to see, particularly to his immediate family.

“While we await the DSS to come up with its clarification, we urge every resident of Ekiti State, particularly the people of his immediate constituency in Efon to remain calm.”

The government added that what fueled their suspicion has been the way the lawmaker has been held incommunicado, without access to family, lawyers, doctors and political associates since he was detained.

“Information at our disposal revealed that the lawmaker developed a strange ailment at midnight and died this morning. This is a shocking news to us and we are seriously grieved.”

Ogunsuyi said the government will take appropriate steps as soon as their claim is confirmed by DSS.