Abuja—Members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, have challenged the Department of State Services, DSS, to publish what they found in the state Governor’s Lodge in Uyo within seven days or be ready for court action.

The lawmakers also warned the DSS to publicly apologise to the people of the state for their invasion of the Government House in brazen violation of the rights of the governor, or face prosecution.

The 26 members of the House  in a statement  by the Speaker, Mr. Aniekan Uko, condemned in strong terms the action of the DSS agents, who acted in breach of all known laws of the land.

The lawmakers alleged that during the raid, the DSS agents drawn from Abuja and Uyo, broke into rooms and guest houses within the Government House, which is one of the strongest symbols of our confederacy and in the process damaged valuables belonging to the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State.

They wondered what DSS officials wanted to achieve by invading the Governor’s Lodge, who has immunity under Section 308 (1, 2, 3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

They said: “It is important to point out that immunity from prosecution and persecution is a well-founded, well-reasoned concept, which has sundry benefits when applied honestly and carefully for the greater good of society. It thus means that a sitting state Governor or President of Nigeria, during the subsistence of term of office, must have a free hand to act boldly and courageously for public good.”

“In doing so, such a Governor or President would not be hindered by fear for self, for repercussion of actions embarked upon, for general public interest of a state or for clearly defined national interests.”