The Lagos State House of Assembly has been embroiled in controversy following a leadership crisis that led to an altercation between assembly staff and officers of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In response to the incident, three assembly staff members have issued formal apologies for their roles in the reported assault on DSS personnel.
The situation arose after Acting Clerk A.T.B. Ottun requested DSS intervention via a formal letter dated February 14, 2025, with reference LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323.
The letter sought security reinforcement from February 15 “until further notice” due to escalating tensions within the assembly.
Despite the request for security, DSS officers faced hostility upon their arrival at the assembly premises.
CCTV footage confirmed that three assembly employees—Public Affairs Officer Ibrahim Abdul-Akeem Olarenwaju and Sergeant-at-Arms officials Adetola Fatimoh Oluwatosin and Adetu Samshudeen Adekunle—were involved in the physical altercation against DSS personnel. This led to their arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.
In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the three staff members addressed formal apologies to DSS Director General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
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The letters were delivered through the State Director of Security, Lagos State Command. In his apology, Ibrahim Abdul-Akeem Olarenwaju wrote, “I, Ibrahim Abdul-Akeem Olarenwaju, hereby tender my unreserved apology for any act or omission that I might have caused your distinguished office (DSS) and personnel in the course of my duty at the hallowed chamber of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, on the 27th day of February, 2025.”
The other staff members similarly pledged to uphold professional conduct in the future.
The fallout from the incident extended beyond the assembly, as multiple media organizations, including AIT, Channels TV, The Punch, Blueprint, Tribune, and The Guardian, retracted their initial reports describing the DSS presence as an “invasion.” These outlets have since issued public apologies, acknowledging inaccuracies in their initial coverage.
However, scrutiny remains on Lagos Television (LTV), the state-owned broadcaster, which has yet to issue an official apology.
The DSS is reportedly weighing legal action against the station if it fails to comply with a correction request.
As the dust settles, stakeholders are calling for better cooperation between security agencies and government institutions to prevent similar conflicts in the future.