The Convener of Nigeria Renaissance Group, NRG, Comrade Usman Okai Austin has punctured claims by the leader of Take-it-Back Movement, Omoyele Sowore, that the Department of State Services, DSS, harassed him for accusing Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo of embezzling N13.4 billion local government funds.
Recall that Sowore, had on the heels of a recent allegation by Austin, published several stories and uploaded video clips. In the clips, he claimed that Governor Ododo orchestrated the DSS to harrass, intimidate and abduct Austin from his house, greatly traumatizing his family.
Sowore, in the company of some associates, further accused the DSS of arbitrariness, violating the rights of citizens, and that the Secret Police attempted to gag and punish the activist for speaking against Governor Ododo.
Puncturing Sowore’s claims, Comrade Austin has denied being tortured by the secret police. He said the additional information his group sourced on its earlier narrative that Governor Ododo embezzled ₦13.4 billion enabled his group realize that it misrepresented the facts of the matter.
Austin said Sowore’s narrative on when and how the DSS arrested him were clearly his personal opinion, stressing that Sowore’s account may have been sourced from a third party that clearly wasn’t aware of what actually truly transpired.
The activist expressed regret over what he described as the embarrassment and inconvenience his actions caused Governor Ododo and the general public.
The NRG leader, at a press conference in Abuja, apologized and retracted his previous publications against the governor.
There are no indications if the DSS would press charges against Sowore for his theatrics, allegations and disparaging remarks.
Meanwhile, the management of Lagos State Television has apologized to the DSS over a report in February that it’s operatives stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The media organization said it “has since revised the facts and established that the acting clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly wrote to invite the DSS to forestall breakdown of law and order.”
Crediblenewsng.com
