The plot was like that of a movie, leaving trained security and intelligence officials confused. At the end of it, Lawal Daura, then head of one of Nigeria’s foremost security agencies was whisked away while his well trained security aides waited for him.
Multiple sources at the Nigerian Presidency have told PREMIUM TIMES how Mr Daura, former Director-General of State Security Service, (SSS), was sacked and arrested on the orders of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday.
Mr Daura was sacked after masked SSS operatives laid siege to the National Assembly complex preventing lawmakers and civil servants from gaining access into the building.
The siege was only lifted about an hour after Mr Daura’s sack.
OSINBAJO OUTRAGED
Sources at the presidential villa said Mr Osinbajo, who has been in charge since President Muhammadu Buhari proceeded on a 10 day vacation to the UK, was outraged by the actions of the SSS.
“When the siege began, the acting president quickly went to action and was able to gather preliminary information of what was going on after which he invited some of the security chiefs concerned for a briefing,” one of the sources said.
He said those invited include the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the former DG, Mr Daura. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported Mr Osinbajo’s meeting with both officials.
The source also said the acting president was briefed earlier by National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.
“When Lawal Daura came in, the acting president asked him who cleared him to order operatives to lay siege on the National Assembly; and his response was ‘shocking’
“He simply said it’s within his powers and that he is only answerable to the President and Commander-in-Chief who appointed him,” the source said.
The source also said unknown to Mr Daura, the acting president had already spoken to Mr Buhari after initial reports indicated that Mr Daura “was in play with President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.”
After his response, Mr Osinbajo told his media aide, Laolu Akande, to immediately issue a statement announcing the sack of Mr Daura.
“The acting president also asked the National Security Adviser to hand over the sacked DG to the police for further investigation,” he said.
Source: premium times
