DSS Denies Detained Independent Editor, Ezimakor, His Medication, Life In Danger – Newspaper

The management of Independent Newspapers has expressed worry over the denial of its Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Tony Ezimakor of his medication as well as access to his lawyer and family members by the State Security Service (SSS).

Mr. Ezimakor was invited the SSS which prefers to be known as the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 but was detained alongside a photographer of the newspaper, Mr. Jide Oyekunle, who was later released after over six hours without any explanation.

A statement by Don Okere, Editor, of the newspaper said Ezimakor, “was invited and detained on Wednesday, February 28, at the DSS headquarters in Abuja at about 10.30am and has been kept under detention since then.

“Upon honouring the invitation on Wednesday, he was shunted from one office to the other and was asked to wait for a particular officer who was said to have been away from his office.”

According to Okere, “management had made frantic efforts through its lawyer, Mr. Douglas Ekhator, since Wednesday to see the detained Ezimakor but with little result.

“As at today (Thursday), the INDEPENDENT management had received no news about Mr. Ezimakor, though the lawyer, Mr. Ekhator, returned to the DSS office on Thursday morning.

“One thing is certain, Mr. Ezimakor was not given his medication though the lawyer who took it to him late Wednesday.

“We hereby alert the world to this real and present danger that Mr. Ezimakor is a high blood pressure patient and apart from taking his drugs, needs to see his doctors at very short notice.”

The newspaper further stressed that “the implication is very clear; any outfit holding him for days is endangering his life. We reiterate that Mr. Ezimakor’s wife said the husband left home on Wednesday without medication and did not eat any food before leaving home Wednesday morning.

“She lamented that her husband’s health must be in grave danger, especially as DSS operatives have denied him access to his prescribed drugs.

“INDEPENDENT, therefore, is asking for its Abuja Bureau Chief’s immediate and unconditional release, otherwise his life is in serious danger.”