Nurudeen and Kehinde were reportedly apprehended on November 29 at Arowosola Quarters, Ajape, Modakeke, Osun State.

According to family members, the lovers have been held incommunicado since their arrest, and their whereabouts are unknown.

Boyenle Adesiyan, the elder brother to Nurudeen, said efforts to locate the duo had been abortive.

He said the DSS officers, who invaded their house around 5 am with four vehicles, did not disclose the station they came from and where they were taking the lovers to.

Boyenle said, “My brother (Nurudeen) texted me around 5 am on the 29th of November, telling me that security men were at our house but they were yet to arrest anybody. I replied to the message immediately but Nurudeen didn’t respond.

“Around 6 am, my mother called to inform me that the personnel hijacked the door from her when she wanted to bathe. She said the officers took her phone and asked who ‘Kehinde 2’ on her call log was.

“She said the officers asked her to lead them to Kehinde’s house, unknown to them that the said Kehinde was with her and standing beside them. Kehinde is my brother’s fiancée and she stays in our house frequently. They arrested my brother and Kehinde, and my mother, and led them to Kehinde’s house.”

According to Boyenle, when the men got to Kehinde’s house, they allegedly ransacked the place and destroyed some things.

She added that the operatives also seized phones and beat up the victims.

“They arrested every member of Kehinde’s family and drove them away. But when they got to Community Grammar School, they freed Kehinde’s family members. But she and my brother, Nurudeen, were taken away.

“Since then, we have not heard anything from the DSS, Nurudeen and Kehinde. The DSS didn’t tell us where they came from or where they were taking our people to. We visited the DSS office in Ile-Ife, and we were told the officers who arrested Nurudeen and Kehinde were personnel of the service.

“However, they didn’t disclose where they came from. When we visited their office a second time, they didn’t give us any reasonable response again.

“We want the general public to help us; we want to know the whereabouts of our people and the offence they were arrested for. They are not criminals. They have rights,” she stated.

Giving an account of the arrest, Gbenga Akintunde, an elder brother to Kehinde, said the DSS officers threatened to shoot him when he demanded what his sister’s offence was and where they were taking him to.

He said, “My mum called me very early to inform me that some security operatives had invaded our house. When I got to our house, I met the DSS officers. I asked them what the issue was but instead of answering, they threatened to shoot me.

“They broke into our house, beat and arrested everybody, including my mother. They also seized their phones and drove them away without leaving any information. When they got to the community school, they freed the people and returned their phones, while they drove away Kehinde and her boyfriend.

“We went to the DSS office in Ile-Ife to report the case and we were told that the personnel were DSS officers, but we were not told where they came from.

“We have not been able to reach both Kehinde and Nurudeen since then. Sometimes, their phone would ring but nobody would answer the call.”

Gbenga said he was not allowed to enter the DSS office when he visited to ask if the lovers were being held there.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Osun command of the DSS proved abortive.

But a credible source at the headquarterssaid that the operation was carried out by personnel from the national headquarters.

“We are aware of the case but we didn’t carry out the operation. The operatives were from Abuja,” the source said.

The DSS head office in Abuja does not have a spokesman.

Soyinka, who is the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday.

A distress message sent to The PUNCH by one of his friends stated that Soyinka was picked up shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom.

The friend in the message said no reason was given for his arrest and Soyinka had been held incommunicado.

The message read, “Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Security at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The incident happened around 5.40 am on Sunday, the 25th of August, 2024, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.

As at the time of this report, no reason had been given for his detention by the security agency. Soyinka has not been reachable as messages and calls to his phone have been unanswered.”

When contacted, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya said he was not aware of Soyinka’s arrest.

“I am not aware of the matter you have raised and have no comments on it,” he said

The Attorney General of the Federation also supported the argument of the DSS, describing Emefiele as a “flight risk.”.

The former head of the apex bank is challenging his detention by the DSS and denying him seeing his family members and lawyers.

Emefiele was suspended by President Bola Tinubu and subsequently detained by the DSS on Saturday, June 10, 2023

At the resumption of hearing on Tuesday, both DSS and OAGF stated these in separate counter-affidavits filed in a fundamental rights enforcement suit by the suspended CBN chief.

In its own affidavit, the OAGF dismissed the speculation that Emefiele was being held for terrorist-related crimes. It also said he was not being victimised for his involvement in politics and the botched naira redesign policy.

The OAGF said: “Issues of terrorism financing and fraudulent activities are not part of the grounds for the arrest and detention of the applicant.

“The respondents have not violated the applicant’s right to live in any way, his life is not in danger. The respondents did not subject the applicant to any judicial adjudication to warrant the allegation of denial of a fair hearing.

“With the remand order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, the said violation of the applicant’s right to freedom of movement does not arise.

The respondents did not subject the applicant to any torture, the details of which have not been provided.”

The DSS, on its part, said that Emefiele was being held pursuant to an order of a competent court.

It added that the suspended CBN boss was arrested “upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimension and undermining the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Tijani Gazal, who represented the OAGF, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that Emefiele’s allegation of unlawful detention was unfounded.

Gazali said the suspended CBN governor was being detained on the order of an FCT Chief Magistrates Court.

He told the court that the 0AGF (listed as the 1st respondent) was challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

The SAN argued that Emefiele’s arrest and detention were administrative decisions of an arm of the Executive arm of government. He stressed that a court’s jurisdiction is determined by the relief sought by an applicant.

After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned until July 13 for a ruling.

The service, it was also learnt, may search Emefiele’s home and office this week.

Following his suspension on Friday as a result of the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector, the service arrested Emefiele in Lagos and flew him to Abuja in a private jet on Saturday.

The spokesperson for the service, Peter Afunanya, in a statement said Emefiele had been taken into custody and was under investigation.

However, a source in the DSS  on Sunday said it was standard procedure for his travel document to be seized pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

The source added that the office and residence of the suspended apex bank governor would be searched.

The source said, “Of course, Emefiele’s travel document would be confiscated as part of the standard process pending the conclusion of our investigation. Also, as part of the investigation, his house and office would be searched for documents that can aid the ongoing investigation on his management of the CBN.”

Our correspondent had reported that other top directors of the CBN might also be invited or arrested for questioning over their roles in the administration of the apex bank.

It was learnt that the DSS might revisit the criminal charges it earlier filed against Emefiele which borders on terrorism financing and fraud.

The secret police similarly accused the suspended CBN box of mismanaging the CBN subsidiary, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the Anchor Borrowers Programme.

The DSS spokesman, Afunanya, could not be reached for comment on Sunday as calls to his line indicated that he was unreachable.

He had yet to respond to a text message on the detention of Emefiele as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN,  has said the DSS  lacked constitutional power to investigate and prosecute  Emefiele.

Falana in a message sent to one of our correspondents said Emefiele should be transferred to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who according to him, posses the legal right to prosecute Emefiele.

A few months ago, the State Security Service levelled grave allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and other economic crimes against Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. At the material time, the attempt by the SSS to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Mr. Emefiele was frustrated by the erstwhile Buhari administration.

“However, following the suspension of Mr. Emefiele as the Governor of the CBN by President Bola Tinubu, the SSS quizzed him in Lagos and flew him to Abuja yesterday. According to media reports, the investigation of the suspect by the SSS has commenced. Even though the SSS which initially denied the arrest has since turned around to admit that Mr. Emefiele is in its custody.

“In the case of Dr. Bukola SarakI v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018) 16 NWLR (pt. 1646) 433-434, the Supreme Court ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lacks the vires to investigate and prosecute the appellant for the breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. It was for that principal reason that Senator Saraki was freed by the apex court.

“In line with the principle of law enunciated by the apex court in Saraki’s case the SSS lacks the power to investigate and prosecute Mr. Emefiele in respect of allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes. Therefore, after investigating the alleged involvement of Emefiele in terrorism financing the SSS should transfer him to the EFCC for the purpose of investigating

This was made known in a statement via the agency’s Twitter handle on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

The statement read, “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.

“The public, particularly the media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.”

President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele from office with immediate effect on Friday night.

Following his suspension, Emefiele was directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), Adebisi Shonubi who will act as the CBN governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.

Unconfirmed reports emerged late on Friday that operatives of the Department of State Services had arrested the suspended CBN governor.

However, the spokesman for the DSS, Peter Afunaya, has now confirmed that the suspended CBN governor is now in its custody.

The spokesperson for the Service, Peter Afunanya said the DSS was occupying “its own facility” where it was carrying out an operation.

He disclosed this in a WhatsApp message on Tuesday.

He said, “It is not correct that the DSS barricaded EFCC from entering its office. No. It is not true. The Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.

By the way, there is no controversy over No 15A Awolowo Road as being insinuated by the Media. Did the EFCC tell you it is contesting the ownership of the building? I will be surprised if it is contesting the ownership. Awolowo Road was NSO headquarters. SSS/DSS started from there. It is a common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.”

He, however, debunked claims that there is a rivalry between his agency and the EFCC.

Afunaya said, “There is no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC over and about anything. Please do not create any imaginary ones. They are great partners working for the good of the nation. Dismiss any falsehood of a fight.”

A security source at the DSS Headquarters, Abuja, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter

In an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday night, the source said, “He is in our custody in Lagos. We expect him to be taken to Abuja. He may not be alone.

“We have said before that there are people who are threatening the peace of the nation. The country will not allow anyone to plunge it into avoidable crisis.”

Nwajagu was arrested during a raid by a joint team of policemen and operatives of the DSS on Saturday.

A source within the Force, who preferred to be anonymous,said that the Igbo leader had been arrested.

“A team of police and DSS went to his palace but he had already fled. He was later traced to a hotel in Ejigbo where he was arrested,” the source said.

Bello, a Peoples Democratic Party member, was alleged to have masterminded the Sagamu mayhem that left several banks vandalised during the naira scarcity protest.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspects had spurned several invitations by the DSS.

Bello, popularly known as Dre, was said to have been on the run since the incident happened but surfaced for Saturday election.

A source at the DSS confirmed Bello’s arrest to our correspondent on Wednesday.

The source said, “Preliminary investigation has commenced and the suspect may be prosecuted for crime relating to arson and disturbing of public peace, amongst others upon conclusion of investigation.

“The  arrest is  not politically motivated as it  was being reported.”

However, the governorship candidate of the  Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has reprotedly visited the DSS office.

The source told our correspondent that the PDP had sent three  different delegations, led by its chairman, Sikirulah Ogundele,  and other chieftains over the matter.

The source said, “Adebutu himself visited the command today, (Wednesday), with a view to mending fences with the service and as well clear the past misconceptions about the office and realised that the service is a credible institution that must be reckoned with.”

Adebutu’s media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, confirmed to our correspondent that his principal was at the DSS office.

 The suspects (Aliu Abubakar, Abubakar Usman, Abubakar Amadu, and Adamu Aliu) were arrested on December 9, 2022.

The suspects were arraigned on Wednesday for terrorism and kidnapping charges in a suit number MISC/15/2023 between the state vs Aliu Abubakar and three others.

 The prosecution counsel, Emmanuel Zamba, told the court that the DSS had filed a motion ex parte dated March 15 in respect of the suit.

He explained that the motion filed, which contains a five-paragraph affidavit, sought an order of the court to remand the suspects at the prison custody in the state, saying

Zamba said the offences allegedly committed were contrary to sections 2 and 3 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

He stated, “We are praying for an order of this honourable court to detain the defendants in the custody of the Nigeria correctional service for 30 days pending the determination of the suit.”

The Chief Magistrate, M O Osinbajoin, his ruling granted the prayer of the DSS as pleaded by the prosecution counsel.

 She, however, adjourned the matter till April 17 for further reports from the DSS.

As part of the crackdown, no fewer than 63 suspected thugs were arrested in Kano on Thursday after hoodlums attacked the New Nigeria Peoples Party supporters.

It was learnt that at least four persons were killed while 10 vehicles were destroyed during the attack which occurred at noon along Naibawa-Zaria Road.

It was learnt that the NNPP supporters were on their way to Kwanar Dangora on the outskirts of the city to receive the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso when the incident happened.

Kwankwaso was on his way to Kano for the grand finale of his presidential campaign rally.

The NNPP, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress had mobilised their members to drum up support for their presidential and national assembly candidates but their plans were scuttled by the violence.

The Public Relations Officer of the state Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi confirmed the arrest of 63 suspects.

He said 40 suspected thugs were initially apprehended and handed over to the police but another set of 23 suspects were also arrested in connection with the attack.

“We have arrested about 63 suspected thugs for disrupting public peace, wielding dangerous weapons, burning vehicles and snatching handsets from people. They are going to be investigated before being arraigned in court, “ Abdullahi said.

Meanwhile, the state police command has ordered the immediate suspension of the presidential campaign grand finale planned by the APC, NNPP and the PDP in the state.

The police authorities also summoned the leadership of the three political parties to an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening, where they were cautioned against engaging in acts that could cause a public breach.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mu’azu Mohammed, in a statement, advised the parties to “postpone the planned presidential/national assembly rallies to a later date after the February 25 elections.”