The Coalition of United Political Parties on Tuesday commended the Department of State Services for issuing a disclaimer on its former Director-General, Lawal Daura.
It, however, asked the DSS to go beyond the disclaimer and ensure that Lawal is arrested and prosecuted for impersonation.
The coalition’s spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, stated this in a statement made available to journalists.
Ugochinyere also urged the DSS to sack all his directors who he claimed have been receiving directives from Daura.
He said, “Opposition parties have applauded the Director-General of the Department of State Services for issuing a disclaimer against his predecessor, Lawal Daura, for extortion and impersonation.R
“We are aware of the under the table dealings of Daura and members of Aso Rock cabal aimed at ensuring that the DG DSS is sacked for refusing to embark on a mass arrest of opposition leaders and sharing of money meant for DSS operations.”
Ugochinyere claimed Daura has compromised some insiders in the DSS to enable him to run a parallel DSS operation outfit.
He added, “We are therefore calling for the sack of all DSS directors who have been taking instructions from the disgraced former DG from his private home.
“The DSS has shown that he has the capacity to stand on the right path. The opposition is, therefore, demanding that the DSS arrest Lawal Daura and charge him for extortion and impersonation.”
This call is coming on the heels of the denial on Tuesday by the DSS of the allegation that Daura still remote-controls the agency .
There have been mounting allegation recently that the disgraced secret service boss was still in control of its affairs.
Mr Peter Afunanya, Public Relations Officer of the service, claimed on Tuesday that nothing could be farther from the truth and warned the public to desist from dealing with the man.
“While the Service debunks this false belief, it warns that any person or group that further engages him or his representatives/associates does so at their own peril,” he said.
He said that the service would not tolerate acts of impersonation designed to undermine it and would decisively deal with such persons no matter how highly placed. R
Afunanya enjoined the public to avoid circumstances under which unsuspecting persons might be deceived.
The spokesman reiterated the service’s continued commitment to the core values of professionalism, selflessness, vigilance and the rule of law.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Daura was sacked by the then acting President, Yemi Osinbajo for ordering personnel of the service to lay siege to the National Assembly.