A former Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Taiwo Akerele, on Sunday cried out that his life is in danger following the invasion of his residence at 1st Ugbor Road in Benin GRA by men of the Department of State Services.
The DSS men invaded the residence of Akerele around 5pm and arrested his Personal Assistant, Jaspa Olowojoba, the security man and other domestic staff in the residence.
Akerele, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, said his street was cordoned off by the DSS men who came in one 18-seater bus and three vehicles of Operation Wabaizigan.
“They cordoned off my street, arrested all my personal staff, my security man and took away all my children’s birth certificates. They sealed my house, my life is under threat. I said I have resigned and that I shared his vision and I am still with him politically, so what else do they want from me?” he said.
But reacting, the Edo State Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Ohonbamu, accused Akerele of attempting to blackmail the governor, saying having accepted his resignation and appointed a new CoS, Obaseki had moved on and had nothing to benefit from attacking Akerele.
Ohonbamu said, “He is the least of our worry; no one is bothered about him; the governor has moved on. To say that the governor is after him is sheer falsehood and blackmail and it shows the kind of character we are dealing with.”
DSS operatives seal residence of Obaseki’s ex-CoS
By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief
No fewer than 25 operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Edo State on Sunday evening sealed the personal residence of the ex-Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Taiwo Akerele, who resigned on Saturday.
The DSS operatives also arrested Akerele’s Personal Assistant, Jaspa Olowojoba, his other staff and security man.
It was gathered those arrested from the house located at off First Ugbor road, Benin were whisked away.
Akerele resigned on Saturday morning, alleging the Governor was sidelining him in running the state.
He was replaced with 38-year-old Osaze Uzamere, the son of Senator Ehigie Uzamere, who represented Edo South Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011.
It was gathered the DSS operatives arrived Akerele’s residence around 5pm in an 18-seater bus and three other vehicles of Operation Wabaizigan.
A security detail to Obaseki had earlier called Olowojoba to come to Government House, Benin to remove Akerele’s personal belongings so that his successor can take over properly.
The DSS operatives at the seat of power allowed the PA to remove his boss’ personal belongings but followed him to search the house.
Akerele, an indigene of Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, confirmed the development to The Nation on phone.
He said: “They cordoned off my street, arrested all my personal staff, my security and they took away all my children’s birth certificates.
“They were chasing me up and down. They sealed my house. My life is under threat.
“I said I have resigned and that I share Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision. I am still Edo State Governor’s political son. What else do they want from me?”
Edo Director of DSS, Waziri Mohammed, and the Deputy Direcror, Dapo Amao, did not respond to calls.
SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to their mobile line were also not responded to as at press time.

By Sola Shittu