Lagos Assembly 'Invasion': DSS Threatens Channels TV, AIT With Lawsuit

By Dansu Peter  The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued legal threats against two prominent television stations, Channels TV and ...

By Dansu Peter 

The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued legal threats against two prominent television stations, Channels TV and Africa Independent Television (AIT), over what it describes as "false and malicious reports" concerning the recent security deployment at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The security agency took issue with the portrayal of its involvement in the Assembly crisis, particularly reports suggesting that DSS operatives "stormed or invaded" the legislative complex. The DSS insists that its personnel were officially invited to the premises to maintain order amid a tense political situation.

According to reports, operatives of the DSS and the Nigeria Police were seen at the Assembly complex on Monday, a move that sparked widespread speculation. However, a letter later surfaced indicating that the Lagos Assembly had formally requested the DSS’s presence, citing security concerns over the potential return of impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DSS, through its legal counsel, Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, clarified that its deployment was based on a written request from the Acting Clerk of the Lagos Assembly, dated February 14, 2025. The letter explicitly requested security reinforcements to prevent a breakdown of law and order following intelligence that Obasa intended to reclaim his position on February 18, 2025.

The DSS, in separate letters addressed to Channels TV and AIT on February 17, 2025, condemned the media outlets for failing to verify facts before airing reports that suggested an invasion of the legislative complex. The agency maintains that such reports misrepresented its role and painted it as an organization that unlawfully interferes in legislative matters.

The DSS demanded an immediate retraction of the reports, alongside a public apology to be aired at least five times daily for three consecutive days across all media platforms operated by the stations. The agency also warned that failure to comply within seven days would result in legal action, including civil and criminal proceedings under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the Lagos Assembly crisis, with the DSS taking a firm stance against what it perceives as media misrepresentation. The affected media houses have yet to publicly respond to the agency’s demands.