From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A retired officer of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mr Ojobokeme Kelly, has retracted his allegation of brutalisation against a former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi.
In a statement the former DSS officer appealed to members of the public to disregard the allegation adding that he had withdrawn the suit FHC/YNG/159/2023 instituted against the erstwhile NIMASA following amicable resolution of the matter.
He said: “I call the attention of the public to the publication I made against former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi on the October 1st, 2023, wherein I alleged that I was tortured and brutalised by the Nigeria Police in Yenagoa on the instruction of Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.
“I also said that the case was before the Federal High Court, Yenagoa in Suit No. FHC/YNG/159/2023 (Mr. Ojobokeme Kelly V The Inspector General of Police & 5 ors). I want the public to take note that the above case has been amicably resolved.
“I consequently retract the above referred publication and the status of the publication, as it stands, is that it never existed at all. The public is hereby urged to abandon every negative impression it may have had against Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi on account of the retracted publication.”