By USMAN ALIYU

The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken over the investigation into the purported attack and abduction of Dr Pedro Obaseki, cousin to former Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

In a state-of-the-case statement issued by the Obaseki’s lead counsel, Femi Falana, in Benin, the DSS headquarters in Abuja is said to have assumed conduct of the investigation in recognition of the nature, gravity and implications of the acts complained of.

Obaseki was reportedly attacked on Dec. 28, 2025, where he was engaging in a football match by thugs, claiming to be in solidarity with the Oba of Benin.

Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asserted that the state service was treating the incident as terrorism-related following petitions by his legal team.

“It is important to place on record that the DSS has now formally assumed conduct of the investigation into this matter,” Falana said.

He described the decision to classify the case as terrorism-related as “commendable.”

He said the petitions alleged terrorism-related conduct, conspiracy, assault, unlawful detention and obstruction of justice arising from the events.

He said that Obaseki welcomed the development and had continued to cooperate fully with lawful investigative processes.

The lead counsel disclosed that Obaseki had had engagements with the DSS in Benin under the authority of the State Director.

He added that any concerns arising from those interactions, including issues of conduct, handling and procedural integrity, had been formally documented and were now part of the consolidated representations before the appropriate authorities.

Falana said the legal team had also instituted civil proceedings before Nigerian courts.

These, he said, were intended to complement, not prejudice, 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, the European Union human-rights mechanisms and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and arbitrary detention.

The SAN added that the steps were taken “to ensure transparency, preservation of evidence and adherence to Nigeria’s international obligations”.

The legal expert 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.

He said this step was taken to ensure “responsible platform conduct and cooperation with lawful accountability processes”. (NAN)