By Danjuma Amodu
A consultant cardiac surgeon, Prof. Martin Aghaji, has been released on bail by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his arrest over an alleged economic crime.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) disclosed this in a statement issued by the Chairman of its Lagos State branch, Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed. He confirmed that the renowned surgeon was arrested by DSS operatives at his residence in Enugu on Thursday, July 2, before being flown to the DSS Lagos State Command for interrogation.
According to the association, the Director of the DSS Lagos State Command informed the Lagos NMA 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 statement said a delegation of the National Officers’ Committee of the NMA, led by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Olayinka Atilola, visited the DSS office in Lagos on Sunday. The delegation 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 visit, Prof. Aghaji was granted bail on what the association described as liberal terms after the stipulated conditions were met. He was subsequently released into the custody of the NMA delegation.
The NMA said it would not disclose details of the allegations or the ongoing investigation, explaining that the information remains classified to protect the integrity of the probe.
The association also confirmed that neither it 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 matter, while investigations into the allegations are continuing.
