The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Lagos State Chapter, has strongly condemned the detention of three Lagos State House of Assembly staff members by the Department of State Security Services (DSS).
The detained staff, including two Sergeants-at-Arms officers and a public affairs officer, were arrested on February 17, 2025, for preventing DSS officials from entering the chamber with firearms, which is against House norms, reports The Nation.
PASAN chairman, Comrade Babatunde Ogunlana, described the arrest, detention, and trial of the staff members as an abuse of power and a gross violation of their rights.
He demanded their immediate release and called for a thorough investigation into their arrest, torture, and continued detention to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The association urged the DSS to uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety of the affected staff.
They also called for the intervention of the Director-General of the DSS, the Governor of Lagos State, and civil society organizations to address the situation.
Concerns have been raised about the health and safety of the detained staff members, particularly since one of them has asthma.
He said: “The continued detention of our members raises genuine concerns for the health and safety of the affected staff one of whom is asthmatic.”
The association stated that the prosecution of its members was worrisome and unnecessary, subjecting them to psychological trauma.
They urged all relevant authorities to take immediate action to address the situation before it escalates.
In a related development, the chairman House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe has assured that the lawmakers are working assiduously for the release of the detained staff.
