*Threatens to Sue SaharaReporters
A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, has apologised to the Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, and the Association of Retired DSS Officers, for leaking an internal matter to the online platform SaharaReporters.
The retired officer has also written to SaharaReporters, demanding the retraction of a report he described as containing inaccuracies. He gave the media platform seven days to retract the report or face legal action.
Ezeakolam wrote to SaharaReporters through his lawyer, Edmund C. Ben, principal partner of Lawminds Associates. The letter was dated October 16, 2026.
In the letter, the law firm stated: “We write to express our profound concern regarding the publication made by your online publication on June 29, 2026, wherein the exalted office of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and ARODSSON were denigrated.”
The law firm added: “While we recognise the fundamental role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability and public discourse, we also emphasise the importance of responsible journalism, factual accuracy, fairness and the right of individuals to respond to publications that may adversely affect their reputation.”
Ezeakolam’s lawyers urged SaharaReporters to publish an official response from their client addressing the claims and assertions contained in the June 29, 2026, publication.
The law firm also demanded the retraction of any inaccurate or unsubstantiated claims, stressing that any statements found to be factually inaccurate, misleading or unsupported by verifiable evidence should be promptly corrected and withdrawn.
Although the lawyers expressed optimism that SaharaReporters would cooperate, they warned that failure to respond appropriately within seven days of receiving the letter could prompt further legal action.
In a separate letter to the DSS Director-General dated September 22, 2026, Ezeakolam expressed regret over his decision to make an internal matter public.
“I write this letter with deep regret and humility to apologise for my decision to escalate and publish an internal matter on an online media platform. I acknowledge that making such a publication was a serious error in judgment, and I regret the consequences,” he wrote.
He continued: “It was never my intention to cause any harm to you or the esteemed office of the DGSS, or to expose you to legal difficulties. I recognise that internal matters are sensitive in nature and should not have been made available to the public.
“I humbly and sincerely apologise for the harm and embarrassment that my actions may have caused you and your reputable office. I assure you that I have learned a painful and important lesson from this incident.
“My allegiance is and will remain wholly with the Federal Government of Nigeria as a retired officer. I have never participated, and will never participate, in any act that is inimical to the security of this nation.”
He concluded by appealing to the DSS Director-General to resolve the matter internally.
“I plead with you, sir, to temper justice with mercy and resolve the matter internally,” he wrote.
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