The detained member of Ekiti State House of Assembly representing Efon constituency, Honourable Afolabi Akanni, on Tuesday, regained his freedom from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

Details of his release was sketchy as of the press time, but newsmen traced the lawmaker to a private hospital in Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja, last night,

It was gathered that Honourable Akanni was brought to the private hospital by some people believed to be operatives of the DSS, but who later reportedly abandoned him there.

The lawmaker had been in the custody of the DSS for 18 days and became the subject of a death scare in the custody of DSS last week.

Akanni, who was hale and hearty as at the time of his arrest on March 4, was very weak and could barely speak last night but kept repeating from his hospital bed: “I am not well. I am sick. I am sick.” He was receiving intravenous fluid in the private hospital as at the time of the visit. He, however, disclosed that he was treated for malaria at the DSS detention facility after he collapsed two times. He said his release may not be unconnected with his deteriorating health situation, adding that he was not told by the DSS operatives why he was held.

Afolabi was picked up on March 4 when DSS operatives stormed the premises of the State House of Assembly in Ado-Ekiti.

Reacting to the news of his release, the Chairman of the Ekiti Assembly Committee on Information, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, said: “We are very happy about the development. The entire state is agog with jubilation. His incarceration really bothered us. I can confirm that every other person detained with him has also been released.”

•Pieced together from reports in Nigerian Tribune and Vanguard. Photo courtesy of Vanguard shows Hon. Afolabi Akanni in his hospital bed . . . Tuesday night in Abuja.

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