The Department of State Security (DSS) on Wednesday threw up a controversy with claims that part of its investigation has shown that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was planning to hack into the data base of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The DSS had, some weeks ago, invaded one of the offices of the APC located in Ikeja, Lagos State two times and took away computers and data bases of the party, as well as bags containing forms of party members. Officials of the DSS also arrested workers found at the party’s office.
The APC had described DSS as being biased, challenging the security department to come up with its findings.
Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson of the DSS on Wednesday said investigation was still ongoing in the case. She added that the investigation by the DSS so far shows that the party had plans to hack into INEC data base and shore up its own membership to match the registered voters across the country.
“Recall that on 24th November 2014, this service issued a press statement on a security operation conducted at No 10, Bola Ajibola street, Ikeja, Lagos, on 22th November 2014,” Ogar said.
“We wish to note that contrary to the free opinions variously expressed by the APC publicity secretary and a number of uninformed members of the public on the action of the service, truth remains sacred and sacrosanct.
“Accordingly, we wish to state as follows:
“That the DSS received actionable information that a building located at No 10, Bola Ajibola Street, Ikeja, Lagos, was being used for cloning of INEC permanent voter cards (PVCs) by some unscrupulous persons with intent to hack into INEC database, corrupt it and replace same with their own data.
“That upon receiving the said report, the service immediately took appropriate steps to investigate same by first seeking and obtaining a search warrant as required by law. This is contrary to claims by the APC that the building was accessed illegally. On arriving at the building at No 10, Bola Ajibola Street, Ikeja, Lagos, officers of this service found that the building did not have the signpost, banner or flag of any company or political party.
“In the course of investigation, the following discoveries were made: a temporary voter card, a permanent voter card;
“That one of the hard drives recovered from the building contained a video of twenty-one (21) hacking tutorials. The tutorial video focused on the following areas:
“How to become a hacker and steps to take to avoid detection in the process of hacking web servers;
“Steps and procedures of system hacking, passwords cracking, decrypting, escalating access privileges, and creating backdoors to servers.
“It also explicitly explained how to evade security of databases such as Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), firewalls, and other measures put in place to deter hackers;
“The video outlined ways to identify vulnerabilities in systems and how to surreptitiously drop a USB flash drive in a target establishment, which when plugged into any computer, transmits malicious codes enough to gain access into and compromise the entire system of the target organisation; and
“Finally, the video explains how to hack into the systems of media houses, with the aim of broadcasting fake stories or headlines.
“It was also discovered that the APC registered under-aged persons including several infants and babies as members of the party. We know that Article 9.1 of the APC party constitution expressly says: membership of the party shall be open to any citizen of Nigeria who has attained the age of eighteen (18) years and accepts the aims and objectives of the Party.”
“Similarly, the APC registered several security personnel from the Nigeria Army (NA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) among others, in their uniforms as members of the party.
“Furthermore the APC had multiple registrations of individuals in multiples of 16, 12, and 10.
“Several foreigners were also registered as its members.
“Also, the APC filled forms without passport photographs, and have books containing names of people with their phone numbers.
“Equally discovered were several envelopes containing passport photographs of various individuals.
“Facts are sacred and opinion free. The arrested suspects have since been charged to court, and at the moment investigation is still ongoing. We shall update the public of further developments.”
The APC is yet to react to the latest accusation. Its members are currently traversing the South-Southern part of Nigeria campaigning for its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.
