By Williams Amofokhai
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has has described the allegations levelled against the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi by Jackson Ude as false.
Ude had alleged that the DSS has increased the outgoing DG’s “goodbye allowance” from N120 million to N200 million.
“This means, Bichi would pocket N200 million as he prepares to leave the agency he had once retired from.
Bichi is expected to leave the Agency any moment and might be appointed an Ambassador to Niger Republic by Bola Tinubu.
“Operatives are angry at the level of corruption under Bichi, saying it is the worst in the history of the SSS especially with the involvement of his wife and other family members in contracts in the spy agency.
“Meanwhile, Bichi has recalled his crony and ally, the Director, DSS, Kaduna State Command, Abdul Eneche, who was on leave to return so he can help him can clean up the mess he made. Eneche is described as a high handed State Director who oppresses junior officers,” Ude had said on his X handle.
The Alarmee reports that the DSS had also denied the allegations levelled against the Director General, saying they were untrue.
However, Fani-Kayode, in a tweet on X on Monday challenged Ude to come to Nigeria and go to the courts to prove all he has said against a hard working and decent man and a dedicated servant of the Nigerian state.
“If he chooses to come, once on Nigerian soil, I will personally guarantee his safety. Permit me to add the following. Had it not been for Bichi and his DSS, Boko Haram and ISWAP would have taken Abuja years ago and democracy may well have been brought to an end by mutinous soldiers during the tenure of Muhammadu Buhari.
“He, in collaboration with the leadership of the other intelligence agencies and the military of those days, exposed and thwarted many coup attempts and ensured that the Islamist terrorists were repelled and contained.
“For this, his laudable efforts in the fight against corruption and so much more we should commend him rather than vilify him. I urge my brother Jackson Ude to sheath his sword and view this matter from the prism of patriotism rather than partisan politics,” he said.
According to Fani-Kayode, anyone who knows him well will tell you that Bichi is not a politician and neither does he play politics.
“He is a total and complete professional and a deeply religious man that is completely committed to democracy and the stability of the Nigerian state.
“I am proud to say that there are some institutions and individuals that are still worth defending in Nigeria. Bichi and the DSS are amongst them.”
