Channels TV, AIT apologise to DSS over false reports on Lagos Assembly crisis

Eric Patrick

Channels Television and Africa Independent Television (AIT) have issued apologies to the Department of State Services (DSS) concerning their coverage of the agency's involvement during the Lagos Assembly crisis on February 17.

AIT issued a retraction of their initial report during their News Hour broadcast.

The organisations clarified that their reporting was based on eyewitness accounts. However, they acknowledged that the information was incomplete and unintentionally misrepresented the role of the DSS in the situation.

AIT said,  “AIT News wishes to apologise to the Department of State Services for the news item broadcast during our bulletin on Monday 17th February 2025, regarding the presence of DSS at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“Our intention was not to malign or embarrass the DSS, an institution we hold in the highest regard for its critical role in safeguarding our nation.

“Our reporting was based on eye-witness account obtained from sources available at the Lagos State House of Assembly. However, we recognize that the report may have been incomplete and unintentionally misrepresented the service and its presence at the State House of Assembly. We regret any embarrassment this may have caused.”

On Friday, Channels TV also offered an apology during its "Politics Today" program, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, featuring former Assistant Director-General of the DSS, Muhammed Ngoshe, as a guest.

“It came to light in some of the letters that we actually now saw that it was the clerk of the Lagos Assembly who actually wrote for DSS protection at the House of Assembly. But if you look at the video, it was made to appear as though the lawmakers were fighting to get inside and they were shocked that DSS was there.

“I think it’s right to apologise to the service to say the use of invasion might not be the right word to use because it was portrayed as though the DSS invaded, they were not invited, but it came to light that there was no decency in how they carried out their work.

“In the real sense of it, it happened that they invited the DSS. I think an apology is right to be placed on the doorstep of the DSS to say the use of ‘invasion’ is probably not the right word to use and not to demean the role and the effort of the DSS, that was not the right word to use.”

Previously, the DSS had threatened to file a lawsuit against both media outlets, accusing them of disseminating false and malicious reports.