FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Department of State Services, DSS, has formally taken over investigation into the attack and alleged abduction of Dr Pedro Obaseki in Benin City on December 28, 2025, treating the incident as terrorism-related, following petitions by his legal team.
In a state-of-the-case statement issued by his lead counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), the DSS headquarters in Abuja has assumed conduct of the investigation “in recognition of the nature, gravity and implication of the acts complained of.”
According to the statement, the petitions alleged terrorism-related conduct, conspiracy, assault, unlawful detention and obstruction of justice arising from the events of December 28, 2025.
Falana said Obaseki “welcomes this development and has continued to cooperate fully with lawful investigative processes.”
He disclosed that Obaseki held engagements with the DSS in Benin City under the authority of the state director, adding that “any concerns arising from those interactions, including issues of conduct, handling and procedural integrity, have been formally documented and are now part of the consolidated representations before the appropriate authorities.”
The legal team also instituted civil proceedings before courts, which Falana said were intended to complement ongoing investigations by security agencies, while seeking judicial remedies and institutional accountability.
Beyond Nigeria, petitions have been submitted to international and regional bodies, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice, European Union human-rights mechanisms and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and arbitrary detention.
Falana said the steps were taken “to ensure transparency, preservation of evidence and adherence to Nigeria’s international obligations.”
The statement noted that social media and digital platforms had been placed on notice over the circulation of footage linked to Obaseki’s alleged dehumanisation and abduction, in order to ensure responsible conduct and cooperation with lawful accountability processes.
