Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Service or State Security Services (SSS) has been hit by a recruitment scandal involving the violation of the principle of federal character.

Senate President David Mark is also implicated in the sordid affair.

Impeccable sources close to the SSS told News Express that during the last recruitment exercise embarked upon by the Service “David Mark alone sent in over 40 names of his kinsmen in clear and flagrant violation of the Federal Character principle.”

The sources alleged that “there were supposed to have been 155 cadets but federal character violators like the senate president increased the number to well above 300.”
The cadets are undergoing training at Ojo Barracks in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. The training, which began their around July last year, is scheduled to last for a year.

The manner in which the cadets were selected reflects the new but illegal practice of top Nigerian government officials sharing vacancies among themselves while more qualified candidates who have no godfathers roam the streets in search of non-existent jobs.

“Why is Mallam Abba Moro, the Minister of Interior, not screaming Federal Character violation?” asked a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “He sacked erstwhile Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, over a similar offence while he has remained mute over the scandal at the SSS, a department which his ministry also supervises,” the source observed.

Contacted by News Express, Marylin Ogar, Assistant Director, Public Relations, at the SSS, said: “I cannot respond to security issues over the phone. You have to come to our office and fill a form. You have to sit in front of me and ask your questions so that I’ll be sure I am talking to a journalist.”

Informed that News Express had earlier sent her a mail and requested her response through the same channel, Ogar cut the line after saying: “I cannot do that! Good day and God bless you.”

Contacted by News Express, Kola Ologbondiyan, Special Adviser on Media to Mark, replied: “Kindly scan the list and forward to me so that I confirm the letterhead and signature. Tanx.”

•Photo: SSS spokesperson Marylin Ogar.