PASAN flays continued detention of members, tasks Sanwo-Olu, others

…Ogundipe calls for calm

The Lagos State Chapter of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigerian (PASAN), has condemned the detention and inhumane treatment meted out on three staffers of the Lagos State House of Assembly by Department of State Security Services (DSS).

The Lagos PASAN Chairman Mr. Babatunde Ogunlana registered their displeasure while addressing newsmen at the Assembly complex on Tuesday.

He urged the state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s intervention to prevail on the DSS to stall further harassment and ensure the unconditional release of their members.

“We call on our labour friendly Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babatunde Olusola Sanwo Olu to prevail on the relevant authorities for justice in this matter.

Ogunlana cited the fact that three of their members; two Sergeants-At-Arms Mr. Adetu Adekunle and a female Adetola Oluwatosin were picked up last Friday on their way home around 7up area, and on Saturday a Public Affairs officer Mr. Ibrahim Abdullakeem was also whisked away from his home.

“They were arraigned before Justice Daniel Emeka Osiagor at the Federal High Court Ikoyi earlier today but the hearing was later adjourned till tomorrow Wednesday.”

Ogunlana said their arrest was hinged on the fact that they prevented the DSS officials from entering the chamber with firearms on Monday 17th February, 2025 contrary to House norms.

PASAN stressed that the continued detention, trial and alleged inhumane treatment meted out on their members , by the DSS amounts to gross abuse of power and violation of the rights of the staffers who were performing their statutory duties.

“The union will not succumb to harassment as Sergeants-At-Arms are saddled with the responsibility of securing conduct in the chambers.

“We shall always stand for justice and with the leadership of the house even as they also make frantic effort to ensure the unconditional release of our members, we are not partisan, we are career civil servants.”

The union however, stated its demands which if acceded to will forestall their already issued directives for members to stop work till their incarcerated members are released.

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“PASAN as a Union demands the immediate release of the detained staff members, and call on the authorities to institute a thorough investigation into their arrest, torture, and continued detention with a view to forestall recurrence.

“ The association further call on DSS to uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety of the affected staff.

“The union use this medium to call for the intervention of the Director-General of the DSS to quash the frivolous trial of our members and ensure their immediate release.

“Likewise the Civil Society Organisations and organized labour to rise in defense of democracy and rule of law as injury to one is injury to all to prevent future intimidation and harassment of workers by security agencies.

“The continued detention of our members raises genuine concerns for the health and safety of the affected staff one of whom is asthmatic.

“The DSS’s intentions are questionable too as the Association finds the prosecution of our members worrisome and unnecessarily subjecting our members to psychological trauma.

“We urge all relevant authorities to take immediate action to address this situation before it gets out of hand.

Earlier the Chairman House Committee on Information Security and Strategy Hon Stephen Ogundipe, who also addressed staffers called for calm assuring them of respite in no distant time.

“We have called both those in the DSS and our leaders to brief them about what happened, it is good it finally comes to this but I can assure you definitely this would be the end.

“Because if our National Leader, our father Asiwaju can bring in delegates from Abuja. I am sure it would be the end.
“We should not take laws into our hands as two wrongs does not make a right, we should show them that we are civil, we are organized and we know what we are doing in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“So, I am begging you and I am still also discussing with the appropriate authority and until they are released I am not going to leave the premises.

“I want to urge you that don’t let us take laws into our hands let’s be law abiding, let’s follow the procedures, if that fails then we will know what to do and I can assure you it will not fail.”