High Chief Ikechi Emenike, a prominent publisher and long-time ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been reportedly whisked away from his DER Publications office in Surulere, Lagos, by men believed to be operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Eyewitnesses said on Thursday that about six men, some visibly armed, arrived at the premises around 2:30 p.m. They reportedly claimed to be from the DSS Shangisha office but presented no arrest warrant before escorting Emenike into waiting vehicles. The agency has yet to comment publicly on the operation, according to Empowered Newswire report.
The dramatic manner of his arrest has triggered speculation across political circles, especially given the current tensions within the national political landscape.
Emenike, a seasoned media entrepreneur and influential political figure, contested the 2023 Abia governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His long-standing ties to Buhari run deep—he played a key role in the 2014–15 Buhari campaign, while his wife, Ambassador Uzoma Emenike, was appointed Nigeria’s envoy to the United States in 2021.
Sources familiar with the matter suggest the arrest may be linked to a disputed property on Aso Drive, Abuja. Emenike had been a tenant in the building, which later became subject to final forfeiture following a separate disagreement with the owner. The property is believed to belong to former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Emenike has maintained that, as the occupant since 2014, he holds the legal right of first refusal to purchase the house—an issue currently before the courts. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however, is said to be pursuing a different disposal route for the property.
Although Emenike has since vacated the house and the premises remain sealed, observers are puzzled by what they describe as “strong-arm tactics” over a matter still awaiting judicial resolution.
