Following petitions by his legal team bordering on terrorism issues, the Department of State Services (DSS) has stepped in and taken over the investigation of the alleged brutal attack and abduction of Dr. Pedro Obaseki in Benin City on December 28, 2025.
A statement issued by the lead counsel to Dr Pedro Obaseki, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the DSS headquarters in Abuja is believed to have assumed conduct of the investigation in recognition of the nature, gravity and implications of the acts complained of by Obaseki.
Falana described the resolve of the DSS to take over the case which has been classified as “terrorism-related” as commendable.
The statement noted that the petitions alleged terrorism-related conduct, conspiracy, assault, unlawful detention and obstruction of justice arising from the events of December 28.
Falana further said that Dr. Obaseki welcomes the development and has continued to cooperate fully with lawful investigative processes, adding that Obaseki has had engagements with the DSS in Benin City under the authority of the State Director.
According to him; “Any concerns arising from those interactions, including issues of conduct, handling and procedural integrity, have been formally documented and are now part of the consolidated representations before the appropriate authorities”.
Falana also said that the legal team of Dr Obaseki has also instituted civil proceedings before Nigerian courts intended to complement, not prejudice, ongoing investigations by security agencies, seeking judicial remedies and institutional accountability.
In the same vein, 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.
Falana explained that the steps were taken to ensure transparency, preservation of evidence and adherence to Nigeria’s international obligations.
The statement also said that social media and digital platforms have been placed on notice over the circulation of footage linked to Dr. Obaseki’s alleged dehumanization and abduction, in order to ensure responsible platform conduct and cooperation with lawful accountability processes.
Dr. Obaseki emphasised that the actions taken were “solely in furtherance of justice, the rule of law and public accountability, and not for sensationalism or political motive.
He therefore called on authorities and the public to support efforts to ensure that all criminal perpetrators, collaborators and enablers are identified and held to account.
