24th January, 2014
Armed officials of the State Security Service (SSS) invaded the Abuja’s residence of Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai Friday afternoon after he refused to honor their invitation.
The SSS had on Thursday summoned the Interim Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to appear in its office over statements he made which the Service termed inciting.
Media Advisor of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, told P.M.NEWS that by noon on Friday, at least 10 armed officials of the SSS invaded the residence of Mallam El-Rufai, who was not at home, to compel him to honour the invitation earlier sent to him.
Adekeye said that El-Rufai, former Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, who had a pending case against the SSS for violating his right of movement when he was in Awka for the Anambra State gubernatorial election last year, had told the SSS that he would only honour the invitation if a warrant from a competent judge is presented, which the SSS failed to do as at the time the armed officials came to his residence.
“This is a flagrant abuse of people’s right by this government. We are living in a system which shows intolerance to freedom of movement and intolerance to freedom of expression. This is somebody that is making a candid advice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that it should conduct a free and fair election in 2015 and be impartial in its conduct so that the society won’t be thrown into undue chaos. I think this is a timely advice,” Adekeye said.
Adekeye said that El-Rufai is still having a pending case against the SSS in Akwa, which hearing came up last week, but the SSS asked for adjournment which the court granted and the case was adjourned till next month.
—Taiwo Adelu