It Is Impossible That State Security Didn’t Do A Thorough Check On Pantami – Ex-DSS Director

• The Minister had claimed that the past radical ideas he was championing were due to age, immaturity, and limited knowledge

A former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor has reacted to the controversy trailing the now-renounced extremist religious views of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

Pantami had for the first time acknowledged his past views but noted that he has since renounced those radical assertions.

Ejiofor said there is no way the DSS wouldn’t have done a thorough check before his appointment as Minister in 2015.

He cited the instance where the secret service had prompted the Senate via a report which barred the National Assembly from confirming the appointment of the immediate past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

“I am not the spokesperson of the SSS but I can tell you that it would be difficult for that information to have passed the State Security Service.

Read also: Boko Haram: They Are Our Muslim Brothers, Shouldn’t Be Killed – Pantami

“They must have it on record of his sympathy for Al-Qaeda and some of these terrorist organisations. If the State Security Service submits a report on an individual to government and government fails to act on it, who is to blame?” he questioned.

Pantami, who is also an Islamic preacher, has come under intense criticism after audio recordings of sermons he delivered before he was appointed Minister resurfaced, where he was allegedly sympathising with terrorist groups.

He was quoted as saying: “Even if the Boko Haram fighters commit a crime, but can we justify the way and manner they are being killed?”

“Just look at how they are killing people as if they are shooting pigs even though they commit a crime, why the extrajudicial killing? Take them before the law for a fair trial.

“You caught someone sleeping and you killed him. If it’s not Muslims that undergo such treatments who else?”

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