The Department of State Services (DSS) has formally taken over the investigation into the attack and abduction of Dr. Pedro Obaseki in Benin City on December 28, 2025, treating the incident as terrorism-related following petitions by his legal team.
In a state-of-the-case statement issued by his lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, the DSS headquarters in Abuja was said to have assumed conduct of the investigation “in recognition of the nature, gravity and implications of the acts complained of.
“It is important to place on record that the DSS has now formally assumed conduct of the investigation into this matter,” Falana said, describing the decision to classify the case as terrorism-related as “commendable.”
According to the statement, the petitions allege terrorism-related conduct, conspiracy, assault, unlawful detention and obstruction of justice arising from the events of December 28. Falana said Dr. Obaseki “welcomes this development and has continued to cooperate fully with lawful investigative processes.”
He disclosed that Obaseki has had engagements with the DSS in Benin City under the authority of the State Director, adding that “any concerns arising from those interactions, including issues of conduct, handling and procedural integrity, have been formally documented and are now part of the consolidated representations before the appropriate authorities.”
The legal team has also instituted civil proceedings before Nigerian courts, which Falana said are “intended to complement, not prejudice, ongoing investigations by security agencies,” while seeking judicial remedies and institutional accountability.
Beyond Nigeria, petitions have been submitted to international and regional bodies, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the European Union human-rights mechanisms and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and arbitrary detention.
Falana said the steps were taken “to ensure transparency, preservation of evidence and adherence to Nigeria’s international obligations.”
The statement further noted that social media and digital platforms have been placed on notice over the circulation of footage linked to Dr. Obaseki’s alleged dehumanization and abduction, in order to ensure “responsible platform conduct and cooperation with lawful accountability processes.”
Obaseki stressed that the actions taken were “solely in furtherance of justice, the rule of law and public accountability, and not for sensationalism or political motive,” calling on authorities and the public to support efforts to ensure that “all criminal perpetrators, collaborators and enablers are identified and held to account.”
The full press statement reads:
ATTACK AND ABDUCTION OF DR. PEDRO OBASEKI STATE-OF-THE-CASE PRESS STATEMENT
Re: Terrorism-Related Petition Arising from the Events of 28 December 2025, Benin City
This statement is issued on behalf of Dr. Pedro Obaseki by his lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, further to earlier public communications concerning the violent and unlawful events of 28 December 2025 in Benin City, Edo State, during which Dr. Obaseki was subjected to acts of terror, dehumanization, brutalization, and unlawful abduction.
Background and Consolidation of Petitions
Since the occurrence of these grave incidents, formal petitions have been submitted to relevant law-enforcement, security, and oversight authorities within and outside Nigeria. These petitions set out credible allegations of terrorism-related conduct, conspiracy, unlawful detention, assault, and obstruction of justice arising from the said events and their aftermath.
In the course of pursuing accountability, the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters in Abuja has been formally petitioned.
DSS Assumption of Investigation
It is important to place on record that the DSS has now formally assumed conduct of the investigation into this matter. Notably, and commendably, the Service has acceded to treating the complaint as terrorism-related, in recognition of the nature, gravity, and implications of the acts complained of. Dr. Obaseki welcomes this development and has continued to cooperate fully with lawful investigative processes. Dr. Obaseki has had engagements with the DSS in Benin City under the authority of the State Director during the course of these proceedings. Any concerns arising from those interactions (including the conduct, handling, and procedural integrity of those engagements), have been formally documented and are now part of the consolidated representations before the appropriate authorities.”
Ongoing Legal Proceedings in Nigeria
In parallel with security investigations, Dr. Obaseki’s legal team, led by Femi Falana, SAN, has commenced civil proceedings before competent courts in Nigeria, arising from the same facts and seeking judicial determination, remedies, and institutional accountability. These proceedings are intended to complement—not prejudice—ongoing investigations by security agencies.
International and Regional Petitions
Given the cross-cutting human-rights dimensions of the incident, petitions and formal communications have also been lodged with relevant international and regional mechanisms, including the European Union Human Rights Commission, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on matters relating to torture, arbitrary detention, and abuse of power. These steps have been taken to ensure transparency, preservation of evidence, and adherence to Nigeria’s obligations under international human-rights and anti-terrorism frameworks.
1
Digital Platforms and Public Interest
Additionally, relevant social media and digital platforms have been formally placed on notice regarding their roles in the uncensored and unvetted dissemination of live or recorded content depicting Dr. Obaseki’s terrorism-related dehumanization, brutalization, and abduction. These notices are aimed at ensuring responsible platform conduct, content governance, and cooperation with lawful accountability processes.
Call for Justice and Public Cooperation
Dr. Obaseki reiterates that all actions taken thus far—domestic, regional, and international—are solely in furtherance of justice, rule of law, and public accountability, and not for sensationalism or political motive. He respectfully calls on relevant authorities, civil-society actors, professional bodies, and members of the public to support lawful processes that will ensure that all criminal perpetrators, collaborators, and enablers are identified and held to account.
This statement is issued in the public interest and will be updated as investigations and proceedings progress.
Signed:
Femi Falana, SAN
Lead Counsel to Dr. Pedro Obaseki
