Ex-DSS officer apologises to DG over leaked memo, threatens lawsuit against SaharaReporters

A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, has apologised to the agency’s Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, over the publication of an internal matter on the online news platform, SaharaReporters.

The retired officer also demanded the retraction of a report published by the platform on June 29, 2026, alleging that it contained inaccuracies and statements capable of damaging the reputations of the DSS chief and the association of retired DSS officers.

In a letter dated October 16, 2026, written through his lawyer, Edmund C. Ben, principal partner of Lawminds Associates, Ezeakolam gave SaharaReporters seven days to retract any inaccurate or unsubstantiated claims or risk legal action.

The law firm said the publication had denigrated the office of the DSS Director-General and ARODSSON, the association of retired DSS officers.

While acknowledging the media’s role in promoting transparency, accountability and public discourse, the lawyers stressed the need for factual accuracy, fairness and responsible journalism.

“We write to express our profound concern regarding the publication made by your online publication on 29th June 2026, wherein the exalted office of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and ARODSSON were denigrated,” the letter stated.

The lawyers requested that SaharaReporters publish an official response from their client addressing the claims and assertions contained in the report.

They also demanded the prompt correction and retraction of any statements found to be factually inaccurate, misleading or unsupported by verifiable evidence.

The letter added that the law firm remained hopeful that the platform would respond appropriately but reserved the right to pursue available legal remedies if it failed to comply within seven days of receiving the letter.

In a separate letter dated September 22, 2026, addressed to the DSS Director-General, Ezeakolam expressed regret over his decision to make an internal matter public.

“I write this letter with deep regret and humility, to apologise for my decision to escalate and publish an internal matter on an online media space. I acknowledge that making such publication was a serious error in judgment and I regret the consequences,” he wrote.

The retired officer said he had no intention of harming Ajayi or exposing the DSS chief to legal difficulties, adding that he recognised the sensitive nature of internal security matters.

“It was never my intention to cause any harm to your esteemed self or the exalted office of the DGSS; or to expose you to legal difficulties. I recognize that internal matters are sensitive in nature and should not have been made available publicly,” he stated.

Ezeakolam also apologised for any embarrassment his actions might have caused the Director-General and the agency, assuring him that he had learnt an important lesson from the incident.

Reaffirming his loyalty to the Federal Government, the former officer said he had neither participated in nor intended to participate in any activity inimical to Nigeria’s security.

“My allegiance is and will remain wholly to the Federal Government of Nigeria as a retired officer. I have never participated and will never participate in any act that is inimical to the security of this nation,” he wrote.

He appealed to the DSS chief to temper justice with mercy and resolve the matter internally.

As of the time of filing this report, the supplied correspondence did not indicate whether the DSS Director-General had responded to the apology or whether SaharaReporters had acted on the demand for retraction.