Why we are planning to sue AIT, Channels, others—DSS

Demands retraction of publication on Lagos Assembly, apology from media organisations

The Department of State Services (DSS) has given two television stations seven days ultimatum to retract a publication purporting that its operatives invaded the Lagos Assembly on Monday or face legal action.

The affected television stations are Da’ar Communications PLC (owners of AIT), Channels Television.

The security outfit is also demanding apology from the stations and other media organisations that allegedly fell into the same error.

The DSS communicated its decision through a letter dated February 17, 2025, signed by its counsel

According to the letter, it was the Clerk to the Assembly who invited DSS and police personnel to help secure the Assembly following fears that hoodlums could attack the lawmakers.

The DSS said notwithstanding that the facts about how it’s operatives got to to the assembly were clear, the media houses nonetheless ran reports that their operatives invaded the Assembly in a Gestapo style.

The letter said the media organizations have seven (7) days to run apologies in their respective news channels five times a day for three days running, or face legal action.

It would be recalled that the affected media outfits alleged that the Secret Service stormed Lagos State House of Assembly to disrupt the business of the House, contrary to facts that the DSS was invited to carry out its statutory duties.