The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced its intention to pursue legal action against Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television, alleging the dissemination of false information regarding recent events at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The DSS has demanded immediate retractions and public apologies from both media outlets, to be broadcast across all their platforms for three consecutive days.
The controversy stems from reports aired by AIT and Channels TV concerning the presence of DSS operatives at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex. On February 17, 2025, DSS personnel were deployed to the Assembly premises, a move that has been interpreted differently by various stakeholders.
The DSS maintains that their presence was in response to an official request from the Assembly’s management, aimed at bolstering security due to credible intelligence about potential disruptions.
In a letter dated February 14, 2025, Acting Clerk of the House, A. Ottun, alerted security agencies to plans by the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to forcibly resume office on February 18, 2025.
The letter highlighted concerns over potential security threats to the Assembly and its members, prompting the request for enhanced security measures.
Despite the DSS’s assertion of acting upon this request, several lawmakers have expressed strong objections to the manner in which the security operation was conducted.
They contend that the actions of the DSS, which included sealing off key offices and restricting access to the legislative chamber, amounted to an overreach and an infringement on the independence of the legislative arm.
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, stated: “While we acknowledge the need for security, the deployment of DSS operatives to lock the legislative chamber and restrict access to essential offices was not part of our request. This action undermines the sanctity of the House and hampers our constitutional duties.”
The situation escalated when staff and lawmakers, upon arriving at the Assembly complex, found the premises cordoned off by masked DSS operatives.
In response, Assembly staff forced open the doors to the chamber, allowing lawmakers to convene and hold a plenary session. During this session, a vote of confidence was passed in support of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, and the House called for an indefinite adjournment.
The DSS’s threat of legal action against AIT and Channels TV centers on the agencies’ portrayal of the security operation.
The DSS alleges that the media outlets reported the event as an unprovoked invasion, thereby misinforming the public and tarnishing the agency’s reputation.
The DSS insists that their intervention was a lawful response to a formal security request and not an attempt to disrupt legislative activities.
In light of these developments, the Assembly has called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene and address the situation.
Lawmakers have also urged the Director-General of the DSS to provide a comprehensive explanation for the agency’s actions and to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
