The Department of State Services (DSS) is closing in on a number of syndicates believed to be behind the blackmail of heads of key federal government departments and agencies, security sources have disclosed.
According to the sources, the secret police is being flooded with requests from the heads of those agencies to help unmask the blackmail syndicates.
One of the sources disclosed that, while some of the blackmailers are believed to be working alone, some, however, have turned blackmail into a sprawling business enterprise, sometimes working hand-in-glove with disgruntled staff members, contractors and suppliers.
The source disclosed that, even though several government agencies have been targeted by blackmail syndicates, special attention was been paid to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Universal Education Commission (UBEC), and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The source noted that some of the blackmailers begin with registering groups and associations and thereafter use the platforms to write the heads of the targeted government agencies.
“They often offer the CEOs concocted awards and recognitions for humongous fees. The moment these CEOs fail to pay up for such awards, the blackmailers move in, and use different platforms to write dubious petitions to anti-graft agencies
“The moment they pen their phantom petitions, they begin a smear campaign on social and conventional media all in the bid to get attention and be called to the negotiation table. All these are to frustrate and distract such CEOs to the point of capitulation,” disclosed the source.
“Worried by the antics of these criminal elements, some heads of agencies who are victims of these blackmailers, have officially reported the matter to the secret police,” he further noted, adding, “they are currently being investigated and would soon be invited for questioning.”
He disclosed that, aside immediate financial gains, the blackmailers sometimes work for bigger ones that feast on the greed of candidates who desperately want to succeed the current heads of those agencies.
“Recall the recent case of a former senator who collected N400 million to help a candidate secure a key federal government appointment. It was just weeks ago that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, discontinued the fraud case against the former senator. That was after he refunded the N400 million,” reminded the source.
Another source disclosed that the DSS is believed to be beaming its searchlight on those he described as “internal collaborators” who work with the concerned agencies yet maintain links with those who seek to undermine the agencies.
“The DSS is working on different leads, particularly on the realization that some staff if the agencies are stealing and selling official documents to these blackmailers, which is a serious crime and against the Official Secrets Act.
“They steal official documents, manipulates figures, dates and other relevant data therein. This is proving to be a huge challenge to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as they now have to work more to sift out petitions with substance from the sham ones,” he added.
“Aside maintaining internal security, and providing VIP protection, the DSS is saddled with the responsibility of preventing subversion, sabotage, and economic crimes against national security, working behind the scenes to maintain stability,” he declared.