2019 race: Why DSS arrested ex-Gov Suswam
Indications emerged on Thursday that former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam was arrested by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) for allegedly attending the defection of All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week Friday in Adikpo Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
A top anonymous aide to the former governor, who confided in The Daily Times, said that Suswam had officially received thousands of APC supporters alongside the party chieftain, Chief John Akpereshi Gum, who defected to the PDP.
According to him, some top political bigwigs in the state who felt threatened with the popularity of Suswam, petitioned the DSS allegedly linking him with the killings in the state.
He said: “He was invited by the agency on Tuesday over a petition by a high ranking politician, alleging that he (Suswam) was habouring Mr. Terwase Akwaza, a.k.a ‘Ghana”.
The Police had declared Akwaza wanted, following the killing of about 17 people in Zaki Biam, Benue State, in March last year.
He had also been alleged to be part of those behind incessant killings in many Benue villages.
It was gathered that working on the petition by the top politician, the DSS, which had arrested Suswam in February last year, placed him on a closer watch until he was invited on Tuesday and had since been held in custody.
The aide told our correspondent that since his arrest on Tuesday, he was allegedly denied access to his lawyers, family members, associates, with no written statement or interrogation but has been kept in detention.
The aide wondered why the DSS, a government security agency has allegedly been turned to arena of politics which is been used to intimidate and harassed political opponents.
He further claimed that the recent arrest of Suswam has nothing to do with Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, but some political bigwigs in Benue North East Senatorial District who are threatened that Suswam will win the senatorial district in 2019.
He described as unfortunate that the DSS has rebuffed attempts by Suswam’s lawyers led by Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, to see him.
The Daily Times recalls that Suswam was on Tuesday invited by DSS for some interactions and has since then been kept in custody.
Suswam’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), it was learnt, will be visiting the DSS office to see the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura today.
The DSS had arrested the former Governor in 2017, after it said it uncovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from a property allegedly belonging to him at No. 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja.
According to a statement by the DSS spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, last year, the DSS had been informed that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property.
