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Apostle Suleiman Storms DSS With 30 Lawyers, Today
Founder of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, will be visiting the office of the Department of State Services (DSS) today, accompanied by 30 lawyers.
Suleiman was invited last Friday to report to the DSS office today over alleged “inciting statements” he made.ý
Suleiman is expected at the DSS headquarters in Abuja today at 10:00am.
“Suleman will be appearing before the DSS with about 30 lawyers because we believe that his persecution has become politicised,” a church source told newsmen, yesterday.
The church’s Communications Adviser, Phrank Shaibu, also confirmed that the pastor will honour the invitation.
He said: “Yes, I can confirm to you that he (Suleiman) was officially invited and as a law-abiding citizen, he will honour the DSS invitation on Monday. The invitation, though ludicrous and an afterthought, is a welcome development.”
This comes after the security agency made an attempt to arrest the cleric in his hotel room in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The pastor, who was in Ekiti for a two-day crusade that began last Tuesday, was alleged to have been preaching against Islamising Nigeria, and asked members of his church in Auchi, Edo State, to resist the killings by criminals suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who he alleged of targeting Christians for decimation.
It would be recalled that the cleric had asked his followers penultimate Sunday to kill any Fulani herdsmen who threatens them.
The attempt to whisk away the cleric was foiled by Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, early last Wednesday following a tip-off.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has warned the Department of State Services (DSS) against alleged plan to detain and subsequently charge to court the General Overseer of The Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleiman.
The governor also alleged that there were plans to invite and charge the General Overseer of the Winners Chapel Ministry, Bishop David Oyedepo, on Wednesday, alongside Suleiman for incitement and attempts to cause public disorder.
Reacting to the development, yesterday, Fayose said the plans to humiliate these men of God and as well silence them to create fear in other people that may speak against heinous crime against humanity being daily committed by criminals would be counter-productive.
He wondered why killer herdsmen were being shielded by the Federal Government that would rather persecute those speaking against them.
The governor advised the government and the DSS not to go ahead with these plans as it would heat up the national peaceful coexistence.
He said, “No herdsman or mastermind of the Kaduna killing has been brought to justice till date.
“The federal government should pay attention to the economy they destroyed and revamp it and safe Nigerians of the hunger ravaging the land.”
Similarly, the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC), Delta State, has warned the Department of State Services (DSS), to rescind the invitation order on the President and Founder of Omega Fire Ministries, Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, to appear before it today, over his comment on the genocidal killings of Christians by Fulani herdsmen, saying, “it is an invitation to anarchy.”
FRHRACC, in a statement at the weekend by the National President, Alaowei Cleric Esq, urged the DSS not to stoke religious crisis in the country with its move to browbeat the fiery cleric.
It asserted: “The botched midnight arrest of Apostle Suleiman and his subsequent invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) is a clear witch-hunt. The move by the DSS to arrest the man of God just because he expressed his feelings on the marauding invasions of the Fulani Herdsmen against Christians in the country is a clear attempt to murder freedom of speech, apparently to engender religious bigotry.”
“DSS should not stoop so low to venture into such dangerous journey, which end will only help to create religious crisis. Our Constitution forbids placing one religious practice above the other ones,” the group said.
It added: “Despite the genocidal killings currently going on in some parts of the country, which has being perpetrated by the now sacred Fulani ethnic-religious warlords, the DSS has not invited any of the Muslim leaders in the country for interrogation. Nothing is more inciting than the DSS’ plans to suppress Christians from exercising their constitutional rights.”
“Handlers of government institutions should be careful of their actions in order not to plunge the country into an anarchic end. Nigeria is a secular country governed by a Constitution. The DSS should not turn itself to an arm of one religious body in the land to perpetrate religious crisis,” the group warned.
“Nigeria belongs to both Christian and Muslim faithful in the country and so, no Christian leader should be made the scapegoat for expressing his feelings towards the Fulani herdsmen’s brigandage.
“We pray that the DSS should not by act or omission instigate religious crisis between Christians and Muslims in the country. We are calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the DSS to rescind its decision on Suleiman,” the group asserted.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.
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