Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday stormed the Surulere, Lagos State office of DER Publications and arrested its Chairman, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, a long-standing ally of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. when about six operatives — some reportedly armed — arrived at the premises, identifying themselves as personnel from the DSS Shangisha office in Lagos.
SaharaReporters gathered that the officers did not present any warrant before taking Emenike into custody.
He was simply escorted into their waiting vehicles and driven off. No reason was given, and no document was shown.
As of Friday morning, the DSS had yet to issue any official statement on the arrest.
The unusual manner of the operation has stirred controversy, with multiple insiders describing it as “high-handed” and raising questions about the motives behind the move.
According to Empowered Newswire, the arrest has triggered intense speculation given the current political undercurrents in the country and Emenike’s long-time links to Buhari’s inner circle.
Emenike, a prominent publisher and businessman with decades of experience in Nigeria’s media and political space, was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Abia State during the 2023 elections.
He was also a major figure in the 2014–2015 Buhari Campaign Organisation and remained a close ally of the late former president.
Buhari had in 2021 appointed Emenike’s wife, Dr. Uzoma Emenike — a seasoned diplomat — as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, further cementing the family’s strong ties to the former administration.
It was gathered that the arrest may be linked to an ongoing dispute over a property on Aso Drive, Abuja — a house Emenike once occupied as a tenant.
The property, believed to belong to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, later went into final forfeiture following a legal battle involving the real estate firm that managed it.
Emenike has insisted in court filings that, as the lawful occupant since 2014, he was entitled to the right of first refusal when the federal government moved to dispose of the asset.
Meawhile, the matter is still pending in court, and Emenike has since vacated the property, which remains sealed.
