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DSS Saga Takes Dramatic Turn As Ex-Officer Who Alleged Torture, 21-Day Detention Apologises To DG, Threatens SaharaReporters
DSS Saga Takes Dramatic Turn As Ex-Officer Who Alleged Torture, 21-Day Detention Apologises To DG, Threatens SaharaReporters
Retired DSS officer, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, who previously alleged torture and 21 days in detention following a dispute over retired officers’ welfare funds, has apologised to DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for taking the matter public.
Ezeakolam described his decision to publish the internal dispute online as a “serious error in judgment,” apologised for any embarrassment caused and appealed to the DSS chief to resolve the matter internally.
His lawyers have separately demanded a retraction of alleged inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims in a SaharaReporters publication and asked the platform to publish his response.
SaharaReporters was given seven days to address the demands, with Ezeakolam’s lawyers warning that they could pursue further legal remedies if the online publication failed to respond.
October 22, () – A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, who previously alleged that he was tortured and detained for 21 days following a dispute over the management of retired officers’ welfare funds, has apologised to the Director-General of the agency, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for taking the matter to the media.
Ezeakolam has also demanded the retraction of alleged inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims contained in a SaharaReporters publication on the dispute, giving the online platform seven days to respond or face possible legal action.
The apology was contained in a letter dated September 22, 2026, addressed to the DSS Director-General, while the demand to SaharaReporters was conveyed through Ezeakolam’s lawyer, Edmund C. Ben, Principal Partner of Lawminds Associates, in a separate letter dated October 16, 2026.
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In his letter to Ajayi, Ezeakolam expressed regret over his decision to escalate what he described as an internal matter by taking it to an online media platform.
“I write this letter with deep regret and humility, to apologise for my decision to escalate and publish an internal matter on an online media space. I acknowledge that making such a publication was a serious error in judgment and I regret the consequences”, he wrote.
Channel
The retired officer said he never intended to harm Ajayi or undermine the office of the DSS Director-General.
“It was never my intention to cause any harm to your esteemed self or the exalted office of the DGSS, or to expose you to legal difficulties. I recognise that internal matters are sensitive in nature and should not have been made available publicly,” Ezeakolam stated.
He apologised for any embarrassment caused by his actions and assured the DSS chief that he had learnt from the incident.
“I humbly and sincerely apologise for the harm and embarrassment that my actions may have caused you and your reputable office. I assure you that I have learned a painful and important lesson from this incident”, he said.
Ezeakolam also reaffirmed his allegiance to the Federal Government, saying he had never participated in activities inimical to Nigeria’s security.
“My allegiance is and will remain wholly to the Federal Government of Nigeria as a retired officer. I have never participated and will never participate in any act that is inimical to the security of this nation”, he stated.
He appealed to Ajayi to exercise leniency and allow the dispute to be settled internally.
“I plead with you, sir, to temper justice with mercy and resolve the matter internally”, Ezeakolam added.
Publisher of SaharaReporters Omoyele Sowore
Gives SaharaReporters Seven-Day Ultimatum
Weeks after writing to the DSS Director-General, Ezeakolam, through his lawyers, demanded corrective action from SaharaReporters over its coverage of the dispute.
In the October 16 letter, Lawminds Associates expressed concern over the publication, alleging that it contained material that denigrated the office of the DSS Director-General and the Association of Retired Department of State Services Officers of Nigeria (ARODSSON).
“We write to express our profound concern regarding the publication made by your online publication on 29th June 2026, wherein the exalted office of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and ARODSSON were denigrated”, the lawyers stated.
The law firm acknowledged the role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability and public discourse but said such responsibility must be exercised with regard for factual accuracy and fairness.
“While we recognise the fundamental role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability, and public discourse, we also emphasise the importance of responsible journalism, factual accuracy, fairness, and the right of individuals to respond to publications that may adversely affect their reputation”, the letter read.
The lawyers asked SaharaReporters to publish an official response from Ezeakolam addressing the claims contained in the disputed report. They also demanded the correction and retraction of any statements considered inaccurate, misleading or unsupported by verifiable evidence.
“Where any statements in the publication are found to be factually inaccurate, misleading, or unsupported by verifiable evidence, we demand their prompt correction and retraction”, the letter stated.
The law firm gave the online platform seven days from the receipt of the letter to respond.
“Should your newspaper fail to respond appropriately within 7 days from the receipt of this letter on you, we reserve the right to consider further lawful steps available to address the matter”, it warned.
Welfare Fund Dispute
The controversy followed a dispute involving Ezeakolam and officials of ARODSSON’s Federal Capital Territory chapter over the management of welfare funds for retired DSS personnel.
Ezeakolam, who served as Secretary of the association’s Welfare Committee, had alleged financial irregularities in the administration of funds belonging to retired officers.
He alleged that more than ₦72 million belonging to the association was improperly managed and also raised questions about a ₦1 million monthly welfare grant said to have been approved for retired DSS officers.
The allegations were denied by officials named in the dispute and have been the subject of disagreements between Ezeakolam and the association’s leadership.
Ezeakolam had said he prepared a report and memorandum dated December 13, 2025, calling for the distribution of welfare funds in accordance with the association’s constitution.
The dispute subsequently escalated following a petition against him.
According to Ezeakolam’s earlier account, the petition allegedly linked him to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and “unknown gunmen” and contained allegations concerning threats against the DSS. Ezeakolam denied the allegations.
Alleged Torture, 21-Day Detention
Ezeakolam had previously alleged that he was arrested on April 7, 2026, after visiting the DSS headquarters in Abuja to submit intelligence information relating to security developments in the South-East.
He claimed that he was detained for 21 days and subjected to torture while in DSS custody.
According to his account, he repeatedly requested to see the petition containing the allegations against him before making a statement. He also alleged that an investigating officer threatened to have him chained and assaulted after he insisted on seeing the petition.
Following his detention, Ezeakolam was arraigned on April 27 before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.
He was accused of inciting the public and spreading hatred against the Federal Government, the DSS Director-General and President Bola Tinubu through posts allegedly made on an ARODSSON WhatsApp platform. Ezeakolam pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
Arraigned In Separate IPOB-Related Case
The retired DSS officer was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 6 on charges relating to alleged membership of IPOB and support for the proscribed organisation.
The DSS filed four counts against him, including allegations that he used social media to advance activities connected with IPOB.
Ezeakolam pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application and fixed October 29 for the commencement of trial.
Background
Ezeakolam retired from the DSS in April 2010 and subsequently became involved in ARODSSON, the association representing retired personnel of the security agency.
The dispute that later became public originated from disagreements over the administration of welfare funds within the association’s FCT chapter.
Ezeakolam accused officials of financial impropriety and later alleged that a petition containing serious security allegations was filed against him after he demanded accountability.
His arrest in April and subsequent detention led to further allegations, including claims that he was tortured while in DSS custody. He was later arraigned before a magistrates’ court and subsequently faced separate proceedings at the Federal High Court over alleged IPOB-related offences, which he denied.
Ezeakolam has now apologised to the DSS Director-General for taking the internal dispute into the public domain and has asked that the matter be resolved internally.
His lawyers have, at the same time, demanded that SaharaReporters publish his response and retract any part of its report found to be inaccurate, misleading or unsupported by evidence, failing which they said further legal action could be considered.
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