A member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Afolabi Akanni, who was arrested by personnel of the Department of State Security (DSS) during a raid on the legislative complex on March 5, 2016, has been released but lying critically ill at a private hospital in Abuja.
The lawmaker, representing Efon Constituency, was dumped by the DSS at a clinic in Apo, Abuja after he had collapsed twice while being detained.
When journalists tracked him down to the medical facility on Tuesday night, he was in bad shape and was barely able to narrate his ordeal.
Fixed wth an intravenous injection, he managed to say that he was asked to go home without being told what he had done and why he had been detained.
Akanni, who visibly writhed in discomfort from his illness, managed to mutter continuouslythat he was not well at all, saying that he had told the DSS upon his release that he would not be able to make the journey to Ekiti State in his current health situation.
Consequently, he said, the DSS brought him to the hospital for medical treatment.
Akanni, who said he had been given some drugs after he collapsed twice in detention, noted that he had never been in detention before but did not intend to press charge against the security agency for wrongful detention as he decided to leave everything to God.
Below is the exchange between him and select reporters at the hospital:
What can you tell us about your experience in DSS?
After I was released, am not okay at all, I had to come to the hospital. Am not okay.
What did they tell you?
Am not okay. Am not okay.
Why did they release you? What did they tell you?
The man said I have to be going, one of the officers and I told him am not okay, that am going to hospital because as I am, I have to be okay before I can go to Ekiti. Am not okay at all. Am not okay. Am not okay. Am not fine.
How were you treated in detention?
You know, I have not experienced all this thing before. This is my first time of being incarcerated. I was surprised. Am not okay.
Was it because the DSS saw your health condition, that’s why they let you go or what?
Maybe. Maybe because am not fine. Am not okay, am not fine.
Did I they tell why they held you?
No.
Did they give you medical treatment while you were in detention?
When I collapsed twice, they gave me a drug. Am not fine.
Will you consider pressing charges for wrongful detention now that they have released you?
No. I leave everything to God. You know, I don’t have anybody except God.
The lawmaker had been held incommunicado without access to his family members and lawyers, prompting rumors of his death in detention which were quickly allayed by the DSS who paraded him alive, though apparently sick, before the media.
