Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeboro Adamson, says the Department of State Services (DSS) has undergone “a pragmatic and unprecedented shift” under its current leadership, insisting the agency now operates with greater fidelity to the Constitution and the Nigerian people rather than the government of the day.
Speaking on ARISE News on Monday, Adamson said: “There is a pragmatic shift from what DSS used to be to what it is now, under a new leadership. We have a new DSS, modernised in consonance with international standards.”
Adamson said the agency’s reforms are evident in its handling of politically sensitive cases. “The recent case of an alleged IPOB member detained for over a year—this new leadership set him free. That is unprecedented. They even paid millions of naira in compensation to someone wrongly detained,”he said.
According to him, the era of secretive detentions and intimidation has changed. “Before, once you entered their net, only God knew what would happen. But today, it is a different story,”he said.
He added that the DSS now adopts more civil procedures, including seeking court guidance before taking action. “In the recent matter involving Professor Pat Utomi, rather than arrest him, DSS approached the court to interpret the Constitution. That is very civilised,”Adamson explained.
On the agency’s growing role in the country’s security response, especially after the President declared a security emergency, Adamson said:
“The President has declared a state of emergency on security. DSS is fully on task and working assiduously to bring the rise in terrorism to its knees. You hear of abductions today and releases tomorrow—it is because of the secret work embedded in the DSS.”
He stressed that while the agency plays a critical role, security successes must be attributed collectively. “DSS cannot take the glory alone. The police, the army, local militias—everyone is involved. And the glory should also go to the President for choosing the right leadership,” he said.
Asked whether the DSS now prioritises the Constitution over the government of the day, Adamson was emphatic:
“Their fidelity is to the Constitution and to Nigerians. The President will come and go, but Nigeria remains.”
He dismissed claims that DSS targets critics of government, arguing that many accusations stem from personal bias. “Nigerians praise institutions when they favour us and condemn them when they don’t. But from what I have seen today, DSS has been neutral, unbiased and fair,”he said.
Adamson, a practising litigator, said his professional experiences equally support his assessment. “In 2008, when they detained someone, I knew how we were treated—even as lawyers. But today the story has changed. They are friendly and accommodating—they even serve you tea and biscuits,” he noted.
He insisted that reforms must be sustained through strong leadership succession. “We pray this leadership model continues. When appointing successors, we must consider the character of the person to lead such a sensitive organisation. Otherwise, it becomes one step forward, two steps backward,”he warned.
Adamson urged Nigerians to actively support the DSS as it confronts terrorism, banditry and organised crime. “If someone comes with big reforms and good intentions, encourage him. If DSS succeeds, Nigeria succeeds,” he said. “Where they go wrong, criticise them. But where they are doing well, say it loud and clear.”
Boluwatife Enome
Follow us on:
