The Department of State Services, DSS, has denied arresting or detaining Prof Okey Ndibe at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on June 1, 2026, saying it only interfaced with him as part of a watch-list review.
In a statement on Tuesday by Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the DSS said reports that Ndibe was “picked up” and released after an officer travelled were false.
The Service explained that Ndibe has been on its Watch-List since January 29, 2013, alongside others listed during the military era.
Following a directive by the new Director-General to review old Watch-List Actions, WLAs, the DSS said all affected persons are routinely interfaced with at transit points before possible downgrade and delisting.
“With this directive, all those who had previously been watchlisted while on transit are routinely interfaced with as a prerequisite for a review and possible downgrade of the Action. This is a precursor to a final delisting in accordance with international best practices,” the statement read.
The DSS added that Ndibe’s case had been reviewed and downgraded, and the brief airport interaction was to complete the delisting process.
“As part of the routine interface, after barely an hour of his interaction with the Service, he was cleared and escorted. Note that, even on his Facebook post, he referenced the professional, courteous and decorous conduct of Service operatives,” it said.
The Service cited the case of Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC, whose delisting was approved in May 2025 after over a decade on the Watch-List.
It urged other Nigerians affected by WLAs to report to DSS National Headquarters to facilitate the ongoing review.
We Didn’t Arrest Ndibe, Only Reviewed 2013 Watch-List ~ DSS
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