The new head of the State Security Service, Lawal Daura, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, will act in that capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Director General, the Head of Service has said.
Mr. Daura was appointed Thursday by the president after he fired the former DG, Ita Ekpenyong, who is accused partisanship.
The first announcement from the Head of Service, Danladi Kifasi, said President Buhari appointed “Lawal Musa Daura as the new Director General Department of State Security Service”.
The statement, signed by Haruna Imrana, for the head of service, said the appointment was with “immediate effect”.
However, the Head of Service issued a second statement late Thursday amid controversy over the appointment, after it became clear the president recalled Mr. Daura, his kinsman, from retirement, ahead of other qualified personnel still in the service.
“President Muhamadu Buhari has appointed Lawal Musa Daura as the new acting Director General Department of State Security Service,” the statement said.
Neither statements acknowledged Mr. Daura had left the service before his appointment.
PREMIUM TIMES reported Thursday that he retired from the SSS in 2013.
Mr. Daura was born in Daura, Katsina state, and was at one time the Deputy Director Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre at the Presidential Villa Abuja between 2003 and 2007.
He also served as the State Director of Security Service at various times in Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Imo States.