By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
A retired Assistant Director (Intelligence and Investigation) of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Dennis Amachree, said the Service is empowered to investigate terrorism financing, and cyber crime.
He said the service aside detection and prevention of threats to national security, also carries out presidential directives/assignments.
It will be recalled that in the wake of the arrest of suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) had said, inter alia, that: “A few months ago, the State Security Service (SSS) levelled grave allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and other economic crimes against Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“In line with the principle of law enunciated by the apex court…the SSS lacks the power to investigate and prosecute Mr Emefiele in respect of allegations of money laundering and other economic crimes”.
While speaking on the mandate of the DSS, in view of the above, Amachree said: “The DSS is the lead agency responsible for domestic intelligence.
“They are also responsible for the protection of the President, Governors and their Vice and Deputies respectively as well as other top government officials.
“Finally, the president of the country can ask them to carry out any assignment”.
On terrorism financing, as well as cyber crime, he said: “Yes. Remember, its job is to take care of internal security…..and these two are part of internal security”