The Department of State Services (DSS) has released renowned consultant cardiac surgeon, Prof. Martin Aghaji, on bail following his arrest over an alleged economic crime.
The development was confirmed by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed.
According to the association, DSS operatives arrested Prof. Aghaji at his residence in Enugu on Thursday, July 2, before flying him to the DSS Lagos State Command for interrogation in connection with the ongoing investigation.
The NMA disclosed that the Director of the DSS Lagos State Command informed the association’s Lagos leadership of the arrest and invited its officials to the command, citing the longstanding cordial relationship between the security agency and the medical body.
The association said a delegation representing the National Officers’ Committee of the NMA, led by the National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Olayinka Atilola, visited the DSS office in Lagos on Sunday. The delegation also included the Lagos State Chairman, Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed, the Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Bisoye Akinsulire, and the representative of the Enugu State branch, Dr. Placid Ajachukwu.
Following the engagement, Prof. Aghaji was granted bail on what the NMA described as liberal terms after the required conditions were fulfilled. He was subsequently released into the custody of the NMA delegation.
The association declined to disclose details of the allegations or the ongoing investigation, stating that the information remains classified in order to preserve the integrity of the probe.
It added that neither the NMA nor the DSS would comment on the specific nature of the alleged economic offence at this stage.
The DSS has yet to issue an official public statement on the case, while investigations into the allegations are ongoing.
