Ekitigate: Temitope Aluko in DSS custody, as probe continues

– Temitope Aluko, an ex-secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekiti state chapter, appeared at the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday

– Aluko has reportedly tendered many documents, which would assist the security agency in its investigations

– The second round of interrogation resumes in Abuja on Monday, February 8

Dr. Aluko is set to continue his testimony over the alleged massive rigging of the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti state, TheNation reports. He will face a larger panel of investigators to shed more light on the issues surrounding the rigging of the poll.

The first round of questioning about the alleged compromise of the Ekiti election resulted in emergence of many documents that would assist the DSS in its investigations, a source in the security agency confirmed.

“Dr. Aluko was invited by the DSS High Command in Abuja to make clarifications on his allegations and give details on what transpired before, during and after poll.

“Dr. Aluko is now in the DSS custody and he is okay there as he sees this as his patriotic duty to the nation especially in his desire to let Nigerians know that the Ekiti governorship poll was neither free nor fair as the world was made to believe.

“There are so many issues to shed light on, … most especially issues bordering on state security about the Ekiti governorship election.

“After the preliminary interaction with Dr. Aluko, the DSS officials are planning an interactive conference with him on Monday which may involve a larger team of investigators.

“From the way things are going, Dr. Aluko may be the guest of DSS till Tuesday because the Monday’s interactive conference may last a whole day.

“The DSS officers were not hostile but they were very inquisitive asking so many questions with details.

“The federal government is monitoring the situation because it has gotten so many messages from the revelations of Dr. Aluko since the news broke,” an unnamed DSS official told a correspondent of TheNation.

It would be recalled that the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti state was won by PDP’s Ayodele Fayose. The incumbent governor and the APC’s hopeful, Kayode Fayemi, suffered an unexpected defeat.

Aluko made first revelations last weekend in an interview on ChannelsTV. Hedeclared military and security officials were used by the PDP to help Fayose win the election.

The ex PDP secretary also alleged that former president Goodluck Jonathan released $37 million to the PDP’s candidate. Two million of the sum was allegedly released for the PDP primaries, while the balance of $35 million was spent on ‘proper’ conduct of the election.

He also indicted a former minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, saying he was the one who brought money.

However, some political commentators described the ‘Ekiti gate’ as an attempt by the Buhari’s ministers to distract Nigerians from the real problems going on in the country. The revelations by Aluko emerged on the same day as Boko Haram massacred at least 86 people in Dalori, Borno state.