The Department of State Service, DSS, has described as mischievous, the claim by former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia , that a governor is a commander of the terrorists group, Boko Haram.
The mischief, DSS said, was intended to incite his supporters and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.
According to its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, in a statement, the DSS said by his status, Mailafia had the opportunity to share whatever information he had with necessary security agencies, but decided to mischievously play to the gallery.
The DSS said Mailafia’s action was a confirmation of earlier warning by the Service that some top personalities were out to cause a breakdown of law and order.
The Service also expressed surprise that after admitting that he erred and apologised, Mailafia told the public that he stood by his claim.
The DSS statement reads in part: “With latest occurrences in the country, Nigerians may have no reason to doubt the Service’s earlier pronouncement. Dr. Obadiah Mailafiya’s recent outburst aimed at playing to the gallery and creating unnecessary tension is a confirmation of his group’s desperation to breach the peace.
“Mailafiya, as a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and currently, a Directing Staff at Nigeria’s foremost Policy Research Institute, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, has unhindered access to government platforms. It is expected that he should be conversant with official information management protocols.
“But regrettably, he chose to cross the lines of decorum and conduct expected of a personality of his status. It is disappointing that he never took advantage of these to reach any of the security or related agencies to share the so-called information at his disposal. This, he has agreed to be a grievous error on his part. It, however, suggests his mischief and determination to use the fake news he spewed to incite the people under his control.”
It would be recalled that the DSS invited Mailafia for questioning on Wednesday following the his interview on a radio station where he claimed that a governor was a commander of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
