Associates seek role for ex-DSS boss Daura

After about 64 days of debriefing, former Department of State
Services (DSS) Director-General Lawal Daura has been released from
custody and his security aides restored.

President Muhammadu Buhari has the final say on Daura’s
fate.

One of the allegations against Daura is unauthorised deployment
of hooded security operatives to the National Assembly.

It was learnt that some Daura associates are pushing for a key
role for him in the President’s re-election campaign.

Although he was in charge of security during the 2015
Presidential Campaign, it was unclear which specific role might be
assigned to him.

The former DG of DSS, who was removed on August 7, 2018, had
been in a safe house for de-briefing as a former head of an
intelligence agency.

According to sources, Daura was released on Tuesday to rejoin
his family.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “He was released on
Tuesday and he has rejoined his family accordingly.

“During his de-briefing, he insisted that he acted in the
national interest in deploying operatives in the National Assembly.
He also described the allegation of being a mole in the government
as ‘utter balderdash.’ He protested what he described as
maltreatment by the government.

“The Inspector -General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, in his
report, claimed that Daura ‘acted unilaterally, without informing
the Presidency. He did not share or intimate other security
agencies on the unlawful operations’. It is left to President
Muhammadu Buhari to decide whether the ex-DSS boss has a case to
answer.

“Don’t forget that the sack of Daura was greeted with discordant
tunes in the Presidency and Buhari’s cabinet.”

But there were speculations last night that Daura had been
“restricted” from talking to the press.

One of his associates who pleaded not to be named, however,
denied that Daura had been restricted or banned from speaking with
the press. “He has a lot to say but as a former intelligence chief,
he will be guided by the ethics of the profession.

“The former DG is only pained by the fact that he was sacrificed
and his integrity rubbished. He feels the nation should hear the
other side.”

As at press time, there were indications that Daura may play a
key role in the re-election campaign of the President.

Some of his associates have been pushing for the role, which is
yet to be defined.

Daura was in charge of security for the Presidential Campaign
Organisation of the APC in 2015.

Another source said: “Some members of the kitchen cabinet and
powerful forces in government still believe Daura should play a key
role in the re-election campaign of Buhari.

“Some have recommended him for intelligence back up for the
campaign but a few others have made a strong case for his return to
security desk like the case in 2015. I think the details of the
role he will play will emerge in the next few weeks.”