NVESTIGATORS probing the twin bomb blasts, which rocked Abuja on Nigeria’s Independence Day, have extended their probe to the doorsteps of a former governor, sources said on Sunday. The Nigerian Tribune was reliably informed that the investigators, including officials of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the State Security Service (SSS) have continued to comb the several communication networks with the aim of isolating information that could provide further leads to the bomb blasts story.
It was gathered that the agencies have pieced together information linking a former civilian governor to the bomb blasts, while other pieces of information regarded as damaging enough are being put together.
The SSS had, last week, secured a court order, which allowed it to detain the suspects already arrested in connection with the bomb blasts, which claimed no fewer than 14 lives.
Sources said that the Special Investigation Panel, set up to coordinate the bomb blasts issue so far has been told of the alleged involvement of the former governor, based on information pieced together by the different agencies.
The source, who refused to give direct insights into the text messages, said that the operatives had been able to track loads of communications with direct links to the bomb blasts of October 1.
It was gathered that in order not to overheat the polity as a result of the investigation, the investigators will for now not make the name of the affected suspect public.
It was also gathered that the top hierarchy of the SSS were unhappy that the Director-General of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, went ahead to address a press conference on Saturday where he painted the investigation as political.
Sources close to the investigation stated that the SSS believed that Dokpesi misapplied his freedom, following the decision of the service to allow him report to its headquarters from his house daily.
Said the source: “The press conference granted by Chief Dokpesi is being counted as a step that puts the SSS in a bad light. It was like a stab in the back, because the service granted him the honour of coming for interrogation from his house. It was aimed at avoiding a situation where people would politicise the arrest and overheat the polity but he has used that advantage against the service.
Unfortunately, the SSS does not do politics; it is concerned about the security of everyone, which is an onerous task.”
It was also confirmed, on Sunday, that the agencies had collectively downloaded up to 700 pages of text messages in the ongoing investigations thus far.
A source said that all those remotely connected to the October 1 incident were being closely monitored and that interrogations would be done at every necessary stage.
Another source said on Sunday: “Based on the international concerns on the Abuja bomb blasts, the investigators have seen the need to be cautious and painstaking. They are leaving no stone unturned in the process. So far, I can confirm to you that the investigators especially from NIA and SSS; have downloaded over 700 pages of text messages. All networks are involved and they have found useful information linking the ring leaders.
“Those being investigated include a former governor. The intercepted messages have proved to be very helpful. Because the United Nations is also concerned, the investigations have been far reaching.
The security agencies are saying that this is not politics. It is a national security matter and that they are determined to get to the roots of this.”
Meanwhile, the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation has dismissed suggestions by Dr Dokpesi, that he was considered for the same position in President Goodluck Jonathan’s camp.
A statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Goodluck/Sambo Presoidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Sully Abu, said in Abuja on Sunday that the Africa Independent Television (AIT) owner was never considered for the post as he alleged in a recent interview with the media.
According to the statement, “the attention of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation has been drawn to certain utterances by the Director General of the Babangida Campaign Organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, to the effect that he was suffering an imagined political persecution because he declined to head our campaign organisation.
“Nothing could be farther from the truth. At no time was Chief Dokpesi considered for such a role. He never made it to anybody’s shortlist or long list.
“In any case, the claim defies political common sense as such a position is normally given to someone outside the geographical zone of the aspirant.”
The statement added that “Dokpesi, being from the South-South as President Jonathan, could never have been considered for such a position.”
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