THE real reasons behind the removal of Mr. Luqman Adegboyega Fasasi as Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Bola Tinubu have emerged.
Fasasi was handed a letter of removal shortly after arriving on Saturday night with the President, who had returned to the country following a two-week vacation. The CSO was asked to proceed on a year-long security course abroad—a diplomatic way of signaling his removal from office.
Sources has authoritatively learned that Fasasi’s removal is part of a reorganisation of the State Security Service (SSS) led by the new Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
The reorganisation has the full support of President Tinubu, who, upon Ajayi’s appointment in August this year, tasked him with returning the service to a path of integrity and professionalism.
Ajayi, a seasoned security professional, was appointed by President Tinubu based on merit and competence.
Fasasi has been immediately replaced by Rasheed Atanda Lawal, a Deputy Director, who is currently completing a fellowship course at the National Institute for Security Studies.
Sources indicate that, in addition to other infractions, Fasasi allegedly used his position to secure multiple promotions within the service.
“He was promoted three times within a year, even above some DSS officers who were his seniors,” a source said. “Some of these officers had been in the service six to eight years before him.”
For example, it was reported that the new CSO, Lawal, was due for promotion to Director in July 2023, but his promotion was delayed by the former service management.
“He is among the Deputy Directors who should have been promoted to Director in July 2023, but their promotion vacancies were given to juniors, including Fasasi, Koko, and Milad, due to favoritism,” another source within the service revealed.
Fasasi was also accused of high-handedness, arrogance, disrespect, and alleged corruption—although these corruption allegations remain unproven.
“Fasasi stepped on many toes around the President,” the source said. “Even the President was not entirely pleased with how he managed the office.”
Since his appointment on August 28, 2024, replacing Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, Ajayi has quietly initiated a restructuring and reorganisation of the DSS. Reports has learned that further removals and redeployments are expected in the service.
Credit: WESTERN POST
