More details have emerged in the alleged invasion of the Abuja office of Pinnacles Communication, the Digital Switch Over Licensed Operator in Nigeria.
Recall that in a press conference in its Abuja office, counsel to the company, Mr Abayomi Oyelola, had accused the commission of invading the office in a ‘gangster-like manner’ on Wednesday 15 January, 2020.
Meanwhile, watching the footage of the botched invasion, a security source who identified one of the operatives alleged that the team that came for the operation appears to be members of a special squad that are only answerable to one Akeem Lawal, the Agency’s Director of Operations and the Ondo born Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye.
”The special squad is allegedly used, mainly, for such operations where the strategy is only to harass and intimidate so as to enter into negotiations with victims, ” the security source, who does not want to be named said, explaining that in the ”event of finding any incriminating item or incontrovertible evidence that can assist the agency in its official assignment during such raids, the raids may, therefore, be made legal or that would only assist in increasing the stake for negotiation.
“They know what they are doing. They will deny it. These people in this video look like those special operation squad members. It is only the Chairman that gives them order or Akeem Lawal. He is the Director of Operations”, he said.
Pointing to a particular member of the team, the source said, “You can see that one hiding his face with style, he is experienced in this kind of operation. He belongs to the special squad. Nobody else can send them outside Chairman or Akeem. Yes, I am not joking. Go and confirm”.
Recall that earlier, counsel to Pinnacles had given graphic details of what happened during the invasion. He said the company officials overheard the operatives, who could not produce any court warrant, lamenting the botched operations, claimed the operatives hurriedly left the place after receiving some calls.
“During the encounter, Pinnacle Communications officials demanded the warrants of arrest and order of court granting the sealing of the Pinnacle office that legally gave them the impetus. The operatives failed to produce any document. Rather they claimed that they were working with geographical coordinates. Whatever that means in anti-corruption parlance, we don’t know.
“After Pinnacle officials made some calls to report the brazen and unpleasant incident in the presence of the invaders, one of the ICPC operatives answered a call. He proceeded to hand the phone to one of his colleagues that appeared to have led the operation. Pinnacle officials could hear the conversation and the operative said: we are here already’’,we have not entered’’, they claim he is not around’’,No pressmen, nobody’’.
“Afterwards, the operative on the telephone suddenly said to his colleagues “let’s go, let’s go, let’s go’’, and they left hurriedly neither like a botched operation. The Pinnacle officials heard the operatives lamenting on their way to their vehicles that they should have shot (gunshot) their way into the premises as soon as they arrived. This no doubt amounted to regulatory terrorism”, Oyelola said.