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SSS Releases Dokpesi, Babangida’s Campaign Manager

Raymond Dokpesi, the campaign director to former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida, was released a few hours ago, according to a member of the Babangida campaign organization.

Raymond Dokpesi, the campaign director to former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida, was released a few hours ago, according to a member of the Babangida campaign organization.

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Mr. Dokpesi, who owns African Independent Television (AIT), has been widely criticized for accepting to work for Babangida whose tenure as military president witnessed massive corruption, closure of media organizations, and assassinations of political opponents, including foremost journalist Dele Giwa. 

The State Security Services (SSS) arrested Mr. Dokpesi on Sunday when he called at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja to respond to an invitation to appear.

He was interrogated and detained over what a security source described as “suspicious text messages” allegedly exchanged between him and some suspects arrested in connection with the deadly car bombing in Abuja metropolis on October 1 during the celebration of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary at the Eagle Square.

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Our source within Babangida’s office said Mr. Dokpesi was released by the SSS at 11:30 p.m. on Monday night. 

It is unclear if the SSS plans to charge Dokpesi to court on terrorism charges. Our security source claimed that their investigations linked Dokpesi with Mr. Henry Okah, an exiled leader of the Movement For the Emancipation Of The Niger Delta. 

A top PDP chieftain told Saharareporters that Dokpesi was arrested to send a clear message to Babangida about “President Goodluck Jonathan’s readiness to flex his presidential muscle,” adding that Babangida had been telling his close associates that Jonathan was a political weakling.

Mr. Okah, who heads MEND, has been arrested by South African authorities and arraigned on terrorism charges before a South African magistrate in connection with the Abuja bombings. Twenty-five people have died so far from the attack.

 

 

 

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