detained the Ogun State Correspondent of
The Punch, Mr. Segun Olatunji.
Olatunji had gone to the SSS Command office on
the invitation of its state Director, Mr. Joseph
Okpo.
Okpo, through the Chairman, Correspondent
Chapel of the state Council of the Nigeria Union
of Journalists, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, invited
Olatunji to the SSS office in Abeokuta.
Upon arrival at the SSS office about 12.15pm in
company with Akinyemi, The Punch
correspondent was ushered into Okpo's office,
who after asking him questions about his
academic qualifications and work experience,
said he would have to wait behind to assist the
agency over some issues "bordering on national
security".
The SSS director, who was later joined by his
deputy, Yau Umar, then began to interrogate
Olatunji over a story published by the Sunday
Punch and in which allegations of maintaining a
killer squad were made by two PDP members
against former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The SSS director questioned Olatunji about his
relationship with Segun Seriki and Richard
Odusanya said to have made the allegations
against Obasanjo.
He also asked him whether he knew the Sunday
Punch Editor, Ms. Toyosi Ogunseye as well as
Allwell Okpi and Leke Bayewu.
The SSS director, who cautioned Olatunji for not
giving him "straight answers" to his questions,
then handed him over to his deputy whom he
instructed to extract a statement from Olatunji.
At the office of the SSS deputy director, Olatunji
was provided with a Dell laptop and compelled to
open his e-mail from where some of the reports
he did in the past were copied and printed.
He was then given a form and asked to write a
statement.
After writing the statement, he was again asked
to write another one inside the office of the
Principal Staff Officer.
After the additional statement, A "profiling
form" was given to him to fill.
Later, his fingerprints were taken and a
photographer invited to take photographs of his
face and backview.
Olatunji was then returned to the SSS deputy
director's office where he was asked to write yet
another statement.
Having done so, at about 7.30pm, he was taken
to an unlit room on the ground floor of the
buidling where he met two other persons who
were in handcuffs. Shortly after, food was
brought for the two people.
About 8pm, Akinyemi walked in and few
minutes later, the NUJ chairman, Mr. Wole
Sokunbi, too came in. The duo went upstairs to
meet the SSS director.
About 8.15pm, Olatunji was again taken to
Okpo's office where he met both the NUJ and
correspondent chapel chairmen already seated
with the SSS boss.
The SSS boss then asked if Olatunji would like
the duo to "bail" him.
He was eventually released about 8.20pm after
being warned against his "uncooperative and
arrogant demeanour."
He then asked the NUJ and correspondent
chapel chairman to ensure that Olatunji
reported to the SSS office at 11.00am on Tuesday
(today).
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