Buhari Fires Aso Rock CSO for Challenging His ADC

President Muhammadu Buhari has fired his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Abdulrahman Mani, for engaging in a supremacy battle with the Aide-de-Camp to the President, Lt.-Col. Lawal Abubakar.

It was learnt that his redeployment was one of the sweeping changes being carried out by the new Director-General of the Department of State Service, Mr. Lawan Daura, on the order of the President.

Buhari had appointed Daura to replace Mr. Ita Ekpeyong during the week at the peak of the crisis between the DSS and the military especially as it concerns the President’s protection.

It would be recalled that Abubakar had earlier issued a memo redeploying DSS officials from 10 beats that they had hitherto been manning inside the Presidential Villa.

He had explained that the decision to strip the DSS officials of their traditional roles was part of efforts to enhance general security within the villa.

But in a rejoinder dated June 26, the former CSO directed the DSS officials to disregard the ADC’s order. Mani had argued that the duties being performed by DSS personnel in the Presidential Villa are backed by relevant statues and gazetted instruments.

PUNCH learnt that Mani was redeployed to Ebonyi had since been replaced with Bashir Abubakar.

Abubakar was until his new appointment, an Assistant Director in Bayelsa State Command of the DSS.

Also affected in the shake-up, it was learnt, is the Administrative Officer in the Presidential Villa Widi Liman. The AO who was earlier appointed by Buhari was said to have been redeployed to the Oyo State Command of the service.

“The new DG is putting things right. More decisions may follow,” a source said.