In a recent article titled “The DSS operates within its mandate,” Dr Peter Afunanya, the spokesman for the Department of State Services (DSS), clarified that the agency has never prevented the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, from having contact with his family and legal counsel.
Addressing the unnecessary celebration surrounding a court order granting access to Emefiele’s lawyers and family,
Afunanya emphasized that access was never denied in the first place. Since being taken into custody, Emefiele’s family and medical officials have consistently visited him.
Afunanya dismissed the notion that the DSS would act solely in response to court orders.
Moreover, Afunanya called out certain media outlets for what he referred to as a “hatchet job.”
He accused them of orchestrating biased editorials aimed at reforming and criticizing the DSS’s public statements and actions related to national security concerns.
According to him, these articles were not coincidental but rather intentional, displaying predictable patterns of bias.
Afunanya expressed concerns about the media’s role in triggering a skewed perception of the DSS, warning of a potential surge in malicious articles, criticism, and baseless attacks.
He noted that certain groups and individuals might exploit unpatriotic members of the Service to spread falsehoods, propaganda, and hatred, tarnishing the organization’s image.
Despite these challenges, the DSS vowed to maintain its professionalism and not succumb to undue backlash or prejudice.
The statement further reaffirmed the DSS’s commitment to operating within the confines of the law and protecting the fundamental rights of all Nigerians.
Afunanya called on the media, as the “fifth estate of the realm,” to maintain balance, accuracy, impartiality, and accountability. He emphasized the need for veracity to avoid misleading the public and jeopardizing the nation’s unity.
In conclusion, Afunanya asserted that the DSS will remain resolute and professional in carrying out its duties, urging the media to uphold ethical standards and seek the truth in their reporting.
