Bayelsa monarch threatens legal action against SSS

Amalate Johnnie Turner, the Obanema of Opume Kingdom in Bayelsa state and a close associate of the former president Goodluck Jonathan, has issued a seven-day ultimatum for the State Security Service to explain the invasion of his Abuja residence on February 8, threatening legal action.
The operatives reportedly seized some vital documents, belonging to Turner.
Turner’s petition, issued on February 10 by his lawyer, reads:
“The incident was so disturbing to our client particularly when there is no allegation that warrants the invasion of the officers from your department against him.
“More specific is that there was no time formal and/or informal invitation was extended to him at any point in time whatsoever to report at your office for questioning in any capacity nor was any valid search warrant presented to him, his agent, privies or any one whatsoever acting on his behalf ordering the search of the said residential premises.”
“This action has cast a serious doubt‎ on the integrity of our client as the signal given to the public is that this respected first class monarch is a common criminal because in civilized climes, elder statesmen and law abiding citizens are accorded their due respect.”
Reacting to the development, a Nigerian civil society group, the Committee for the Defence of Democracy has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the DSS “to desist from this glaring war against the South-south region, particularly allies of Jonathan”.
“If so much honour and respect can be accorded to the traditional institutions in the North and Yoruba land, same institutions in the South-south cannot be subjected to ridicule in the name of political vendetta,” the group’s statement reads.