…. It’s a lie, say Police and SSS

By Luka Binniyat

Supporters of Speaker of the House of Represenatatives, Dimeji Bankole  yesterday alleged that a huge quantity of printed T-shirts and posters bearing insulting messages against the Speaker have been impounded by the Police  and the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja.

One of them who does not want his name mentioned, said that the material was part of the plot to unsettle the Reps when they resume from their three-week break next Tuesday.

But, when our reporter sought for confirmation of the arrest from the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, SP Jimoh Mossud, said he was not aware of the development.

Also the State Security Service denied knowledge of any arrest.

The SSS Spokesperson, Mrs Marilyn Ogar, told Sunday Vanguard, that, “there was nothing like that. Bankole is not a staff of the SSS, why should we do that?

“Ours is purely for national security. We  have nothing to do with matters that bear no relevance to internal security. The SSS should not be dragged into what is happening in the National Assembly”, she said.

According to the source, the  shop of a man (name withheld) who was contracted for the job, was raided following a tip off to the State Security Service (SSS), from some concerned printers at the UTC Shopping Complex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

“The posters are bearing the picture of Bankole and all manner of unprintable words against him and other members of the House leadership”, said the source.

“ A combine team of SSS and Police Officers stormed the B-LINE of the complex and their search led to the discovery of thousands of the posters and T-shirts packaged for delivery in the shop of the man who was contracted for the job.
“The  owner of the shop was immediately arrested and is presently undergoing interrogation”, he said.

“He has  made confessional statement linking the printing contract to some aggrieved ‘progressive minded legislators who he said told their agents, now on the run, to get the posters ready for pasting all over Abuja metropolis from Saturday as a prelude to invading the premises of National Assembly with hooligans”, he said.