Daily Trust (Abuja)
Nigeria: Bomb Blasts - SSS Arrests Dokpesi
Suleiman M. Bisalla, Mohammed Shehu and Usman Bello
5 October 2010
Abuja — Shrapnel from last Friday's twin bomb blasts in Abuja hit the political scene hard yesterday when the Director General of the IBB 2011 Presidential Campaign Organisation High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi was arrested by the State Security Service [SSS] for alleged complicity in the bombing.
Two car bombs had exploded not too far from Eagle Square, venue of the Nigeria@50 independence anniversary celebrations, while the ceremony attended by the cream of Nigerian leaders and many foreign dignitaries was in full swing.
Dokpesi, who drove himself to the SSS headquarters at about 11 am yesterday, was still being held as at 9 pm last night. He was said to have been denied access to his family, lawyers or associates.
His deputy in the IBB campaign organisation Senator Mahmud Kanti Bello confirmed in a statement yesterday that Dokpesi, who is also the Chairman of Daar Communications, was with the SSS for undisclosed reasons.
The statement said a team of four persons from the IBB campaign organisation which was dispatched to see him and confirm the reasons for his detention returned to the office late yesterday after failing to have access to him.
Abayomi Adeshida/Vanguard
The scene of a bomb blast during the 50th Independence Anniversary around the Millenium Park, Abuja.
Also, a text message from Chief Dokpesi's son, Raymond Dokpesi Jr said, "My dad was invited by the SSS for questioning last night [Sunday night]. They requested he appears in their office by 10 am this morning [yesterday]. He obliged and has not been heard from since. All efforts to reach him, see him or communicate with him proved abortive."
The statement from the IBB campaign organisation said, "Director General of the IBB 2011 Presidential Campaign Organization, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi was invited Sunday, 3rd October, 2010 by the State Security Services [SSS] to report to their headquarters by 11am Monday, 4th October, 2010. As a law abiding citizen, he promptly complied and reported to the State Security Services headquarters by 10am this morning as directed.
"Between 11am and 5pm this evening Monday 4th October, 2010, all telephone calls placed to him were unanswered. The Campaign Organization dispatched a high powered delegation comprising four directors of the Campaign Organization and his personal Lawyer to enquire as to his whereabouts. The delegation was denied access to High Chief Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and had to return to the Campaign office at about 6.50pm. No reason has been given whatsoever by the State Security Services for his invitation, and detention, neither is his whereabouts known.
"As at the time of writing this statement [7.50pm], High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been denied access by the SSS to his family, personal Physician, Lawyers, and the Campaign Organization. As we write, his family is worried, and deeply concerned for his safety, health and his well being. In addition, his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are being violated. High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is a well respected and patriotic Nigerian who has continued to contribute selflessly to the growth, development and stability of the Nigerian nation."
The IBB 2011 Campaign Organisation condemned the detention and called for his immediate release. The statement said the detention had brought to the fore the "growing politics of intolerance, intimidation, coercion, persecution and harassment in spite of the avowed commitment to the rule of law by the present administration."
The organisation also called on security agencies in the country not to allow themselves "to be used as tools to settle political scores particularly on simple intra-party contest."
When contacted, SSS spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar said she was not in the office as she was indisposed, and could therefore not comment on the detention.
But she told a press conference earlier in the day that the organisation had foiled a larger plot to detonate at least six car bombs in Abuja days before last Friday's bomb blast attacks near the Eagle Square. Reuters quoted her as saying that those responsible had planned a larger attack for Wednesday, September 29, in which at least six car bombs were to be detonated in the capital city's Three Arms Zone.
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"The despicable act of terrorism which eventually took place on October 1 was planned for Wednesday September 29 but was foiled as soon as information was received during the early hours of September 28," she said at the conference.
Meanwhile, security sources alleged yesterday that Dokpesi's detention was due to a SMS [Short Message] purportedly found in the mobile phone of one of the suspects who had been arrested in connection with Friday's bomb blasts. The text message purportedly asked "if Dokpesi has paid the balance," while another SMS was allegedly "inviting another suspect to a meeting at IBB Campaign office."
A Presidency said last night, "I can tell you that one Raymond Dokpesi was detained for interrogation by the security agencies. The immediate cause was a text message found in the phone of one of the arrested suspects which reads: "Have you collected the balance from Dokpesi?" Another message found in the handset of the arrested persons according to the source reads: "Let's meet at IBB campaign office."
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