Defection : Why Suswam was arrested !

Indications emerged yesterday that the former governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam was arrested by the Department of State security service, DSS for allegedly attending the defection of All progressive Congress, APC Chieftains to the People's Democratic Party, PDP Last week Friday in Adikpo Kwande local government area of Benue.

Not less than 5,000 APC supporters alongside the party chieftain Chief John Akpereshi Gum decamped to the PDP.

They were officially received by the former governor of Benue state Gabriel Suswam.

An aide close to the Governor who crave for anonymity yesterday told Nigerian Nigerian pilot that since Suswam''s arrest on Tuesday, he was allegedly denied access to his lawyers, family members, associates ,no written statement or interrogation he has just been kept in detention.

According to the the aide, he described the DSS that has allegedly been turned to arena of politics which is been used to intimidate and harassed political opponents.

The aide further added that, the recent arrest has nothing to do with the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom but some political bigwigs in Benue North East Senatorial District that allegedly petition the former governor been the mastermind of the killings in the state.

He said that attempts by Suswam lawyers to see him yesterday were bluffed.

He further added that Suswam arrest is purely political for the fear of him contesting for the senatorial seat come 2019.

Dr. Gabriel Suswam, was on Tuesday invited by Department of State Service, DSS for some interactions and has since been kept in custody.

Nigerian pilot learned that he was invited by the agency on Tuesday over a petition by a high ranking politician, alleging that he (Suswam) was habouring Mr. Terwase Akwaza, a.k.a 'Ghana'. Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has been invited by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Police had declared Akwaza wanted, following the killing of about 17 people in Zaki Biam, Benue State, in March last year.

He had also been alleged to be part of those behind incessant killings in many Benue villages. It was gathered that working on the petition by the top politician, the DSS, which had arrested Suswam in February last year, placed him on a closer watch until he was invited on Tuesday and had since been held in custody.

Suswam's lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), it was learned, will be visiting the DSS office to see the Director General of the DSS LaSalle Daura today.

When he was arrested last year, the DSS said arms and ammunition and other incriminating items were recovered in some exotic cars in a complex which it claimed belonged to the former governor.

In a statement issued by Tony Opuiyo, DSS said then that it raided the building at 44, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, and recovered keys of 45 exotic cars, 21 Certificates of Occupancy, arms and ammunition.

The statement had read: "The Department of State Services, DSS, wishes to inform the public that on February 24, 2017, between 2100 hours and 0242 hours, the service executed a search warrant, at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at No 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja.

"The operation was informed by intelligence that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property, particularly a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ), which were subsequently confiscated."

"Consequently, on February 25, 2017, about 1000hours, in the presence of two (2) private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the cars were searched and the following items were recovered ''Weapons: (i) glock pistol with two (2) magazines and a total of Twenty-Nine (29) rounds of ammunition; (ii) mini-Uzi with two (2) magazines containing 10 rounds and 4 rounds respectively; (iii) forty-two (42) extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack; and (iv) One (1) AK-47.

"Other items recovered include: i. Twenty-one (21) Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one (1) Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy; ii. Twenty-three (23) Luxury designer watches; and iii. Forty-five (45) keys to various exotic cars.

"Following this discovery, the Service launched further investigation which revealed that the cars and the recovered items belong to the former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam who has already been invited by the Service and presently helping in the investigations."

He was eventually released on bail by the DSS before the Tuesday arrest.

Following last year's arrest Dr. Suswam was held in DSS custody for over two months and had to sue the organization before he was granted an administrative bail.