Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television have publicly apologised to the Department of State Services (DSS) over their earlier reports on the security agency’s role in the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis on February 17.
In an official statement aired during its News Hour program, AIT clarified that its initial reporting was based on eyewitness accounts but admitted the information was incomplete and unintentionally misrepresented the DSS’s presence at the Assembly complex.
“AIT News wishes to apologise to the Department of State Services for the news item broadcast during our bulletin on Monday, 17th February 2025, regarding the presence of DSS at the Lagos State House of Assembly,” the station said.
“Our intention was not to malign or embarrass the DSS, an institution we hold in the highest regard for its critical role in safeguarding our nation. Our reporting was based on eyewitness accounts from sources available at the Lagos State House of Assembly. However, we recognise that the report may have been incomplete and unintentionally misrepresented the service and its presence at the State House of Assembly. We regret any embarrassment this may have caused.”
Similarly, Channels TV issued an apology during its programme Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where former DSS Assistant Director-General, Muhammed Ngoshe, was a guest.
Okinbaloye acknowledged that the initial reports gave an impression that DSS operatives had forcefully entered the Assembly complex, but it later emerged that the clerk of the House had officially requested their presence for security reasons.
“It came to light in some of the letters we now have that the clerk of the Lagos Assembly actually requested DSS protection at the House of Assembly,” he said.
“But if you look at the video, it appears as though lawmakers are trying to force their way inside and are shocked by the presence of the DSS. The use of ‘invasion’ might not have been the right word, as it suggested the DSS was there uninvited. However, it turned out that they were formally requested.
“I think an apology is the right thing to offer to the DSS because the word ‘invasion’ may have misrepresented their role and efforts. That was not our intention.”
Ngoshe, in his response, expressed hope that the apologies would be formally conveyed to the DSS.
DSS Had Threatened Legal Action
The apologies come after the DSS, through its lawyer Adedeji Adedipe (SAN), threatened legal action against both media houses, accusing them of spreading false and malicious reports.
In a letter addressed to the stations, the DSS refuted claims that its operatives had acted unlawfully, insisting that its role at the Assembly complex was purely to support existing security measures.
The agency demanded an immediate retraction and a public apology, to be aired for three consecutive days across all platforms. It warned that failure to comply within seven days would lead to civil and criminal legal action under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act.