A RETIRED officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, has apologised to the agency’s Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, over his decision to make an internal matter public, while demanding that SaharaReporters retract a report he described as inaccurate.
Ezeakolam, through his lawyer, Edmund C. Ben, principal partner of Lawminds Associates, gave SaharaReporters seven days to retract what he described as inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims in a June 29, 2026 report or face possible legal action.
The demand is contained in a letter dated October 16, 2026, signed by Ben on behalf of the retired officer.
According to the letter, the publication allegedly “denigrated” the office of the DSS Director-General and the Association of Retired DSS Officers of Nigeria (ARODSSON).
The law firm acknowledged the role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability but urged SaharaReporters to uphold factual accuracy, fairness and responsible journalism.
“We write to express our profound concern regarding the publication made by your online publication on 29th June 2026, wherein the exalted office of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and ARODSSON were denigrated,” the law firm wrote.
It demanded that SaharaReporters publish an official response from Ezeakolam addressing the claims contained in the report and retract any statements found to be inaccurate, misleading or unsupported by verifiable evidence.
The lawyers said they remained hopeful that the publication would cooperate, but warned that Ezeakolam reserved the right to pursue “further lawful steps” if no appropriate response was received within seven days of the letter’s receipt.
Separately, Ezeakolam apologised to Ajayi and the retired officers’ association over his decision to escalate an internal matter to the media.
In a letter dated September 22, 2026, Ezeakolam said he regretted publishing the matter online, describing the decision as “a serious error in judgment.”
“I write this letter with deep regret and humility, to apologise for my decision to escalate and publish an internal matter on an online media space. I acknowledge that making such publication was a serious error in judgment and I regret the consequences,” he wrote.
Ezeakolam said he did not intend to cause harm to Ajayi or expose the DSS Director-General to legal difficulties.
He acknowledged that internal matters involving the service were sensitive and should not have been made public, adding that he had learned from the incident.
The retired officer also reaffirmed his allegiance to the Federal Government and said he had neither participated nor would participate in any act detrimental to Nigeria’s national security.
“My allegiance is and will remain wholly to the Federal Government of Nigeria as a retired officer. I have never participated and will never participate in any act that is inimical to the security of this nation,” he wrote.He concluded by asking the DSS Director-General to “temper justice with mercy” and resolve the matter internally.
