Three individuals arrested for allegedly assaulting officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) during the February 18 crisis at the Lagos State House of Assembly have been released on bail. Their release followed the intervention of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana.
Reports emerged on Saturday that the DSS had apprehended the suspects after reviewing CCTV footage of the incident. A DSS source told THISDAY that the trio—photographer Ibrahim Olanrewaju Abdulkareem and two members of the Assembly’s Sergeant at Arms, Adetu Adekunle Samsudeen and Adetola Oluwatosin Fatimoh—were arrested in different parts of Lagos.
Tensions Rise In Lagos
The arrests came amid heightened tensions at the Lagos Assembly, where security was reinforced following intelligence reports that loyalists of former Speaker Hon. Mudashiru Obasa planned to reinstate him forcefully.
A leaked memo dated February 14, 2025, revealed that the Assembly’s leadership had written to the DSS Director and other security agencies, citing security concerns. The letter, signed by Acting Clerk A.T.B. Ottun, requested a strict access control policy at the Assembly complex from February 15 until further notice.
Lawmakers reportedly mobilized their supporters, leading to a confrontation in which DSS officers stationed at the complex were attacked. The DSS acted swiftly, analyzing surveillance footage and tracking down three suspects linked to the assault.
Falana Secures Bail for Arrested Individuals
Following their arrest, human rights lawyer Femi Falana intervened on their behalf. Speaking to SaharaReporters on Sunday, Falana confirmed that he reached out to the Director-General of the DSS, who subsequently ordered their release on bail.
“I intervened by contacting the Director-General of the State Security Service. Upon our intervention, the DG ordered that they be granted bail. They met the bail conditions and were released last night,” Falana stated.
The unfolding events at the Lagos Assembly continue to draw attention, with many closely watching how the leadership navigates the political crisis in the days ahead.
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