SSS Drills Dokpesi, IBB Campaign DG

ABUJA—BARELY 24
hours after President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the nation’s security agencies were closing in on sponsors of Friday’s bombings in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that almost marred the Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Director of IBB Campaign Organization, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was, yesterday, arrested by the State Security Service, SSS, in connection with the blasts.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that Dokpesi was picked up following a revealing Short Message Service, SMS, text message sent to the Smartphone of one of the suspects in police custody, asking “if Dokpesi has paid the balance,” and another SMS “inviting another suspect to a meeting at IBB Campaign office.”
Top security sources said that Dokpesi was being detained for interrogation by the security agencies, following “a text message found in the phone of one of the arrested suspects. The text message reads: “Have you collected the balance from Dokpesi?”
The source added: “This was said to have sent alarm signals across the nation’s security apparatus, since the suspect concerned is considered to be neck deep in the bombing plot.”
Vanguard further learnt that another text massage, said to be more dramatic, was allegedly sent to the phone of another suspect in custody which reads: “Let’s meet at IBB campaign office,” thereby leading to what security operatives referred to as “a high tech sting operation which in a matter of hours, has netted a wider ring of suspects.”
It was also gathered that a suspect who never knew he was already under surveillance confided in a friend that “na we do am…..meet me make I brief u”, and he is currently confessing more details to the security agencies.
More worrisome, Vanguard was told, was the confession of another suspect who alleged that “in the last two weeks he bought a brand new Muraino SUV from funds received from Dokpesi.”
Part of the confession, according to our source, includes an alleged directive from Mr. Henry Okah that they should destabilise the government since Jonathan “was not ready to put serious money on the table.”
IBB calls for immediate release
Following the arrest of the Director-General, IBB 2011 Campaign Organization, Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi by men of the State Security Service, SSS, former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida warned that the security operatives should not allow themselves to be used and called for his immediate release
A statement signed by the Deputy Director General, IBB 2011 Campaign Organization, Senator Mahmud Kanti, called for his immediate release, just as he drew attention of the international community to what he described as “the growing politics of intolerance, intimidation, coercion, persecution and harassment in spite of the avowed commitment to the rule of law by the present administration.”
The statement said: “We call on the security agencies of the country not to allow themselves to be used as tools to settle political scores particularly on simple intra_party contest. The IBB 2011 Campaign Örganisation hereby condemns in the strongest terms the detention of its Director General and calls for his immediate release.
It said: “The Director General of the IBB 2011 Presidential Campaign Organization, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi was invited Sunday, October 3, 2010 by the State Security Services, SSS, to report to their headquarters by 11.00 a.m Monday, October 4, 2010. As a law abiding citizen, he promptly complied and reported to the State Security Services headquarters by 10.00 a.m this morning (yesterday) as directed.
“Between 11.00a.m and 5.00 p.m this evening Monday, October 4, 2010, all telephone calls placed to him were unanswered. The Campaign Organization dispatched a high powered delegation comprising four directors of the Campaign Organization and his personal lawyer to enquire as to his whereabouts.
“The delegation was denied access to High Chief Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and had to return to the Campaign office at about 6.50pm. No reason has been given whatsoever by the State Security Services for his invitation, and detention, neither is his whereabouts known
“As at the time of writing this statement (7.50pm), High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been denied access by the SSS to his family, personal physician, lawyers, and the campaign organization. As we write, his family is worried, and deeply concerned for his safety, health and his well being.”
“In addition, his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are being violated. High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, is a well respected and patriotic Nigerian who has continued to contribute selflessly to the growth, development and stability of the Nigerian nation.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe insisted, yesterday, that the Golden Jubilee bombing of Abuja was Henry Okah’s personal agenda, that did not represent a struggle for Niger Delta by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND.