Tinubu’s CSO, Adegboyega Fasasi Reportedly Removed

The Director General of the State Security Service, SSS, Tosin Ajayi, has removed Adeboyega Fasasi as the Chief Security Officer, CSO to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Credible security sources who confirmed Mr Fasasi’s removal at the weekend said he was replaced by Rasheed Atanda Lawal, a deputy director currently undergoing a fellowship course at the National Institute for Security Studies.

According to sources, Mr Lawal was due for promotion to the rank of director since July 2023, but his promotion was stood down by the former service management.

“He is among the Deputy Directors that should have been promoted to Director since July 2023, but whose vacancies for promotion were given to their juniors like Koko, Milad and Fasasi because of favouritism,” said a source familiar with the development.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Fasasi’s removal might not be unconnected with his alleged high-handedness and stepping on many influential toes around the president.

“Fasasi has stepped on so many toes. Even the president was not so much pleased with the way he coordinates the office,” said an inside source.

New DG, new CSO?

Insiders said it has become the tradition of the service to change the CSO to the President when a new DG of SSS is appointed.

In March 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the redeployment of his CSO, Bashir Abubakar and accepted Idris Ahmed as replacement.

Ther then DG of the SSS, Yusuf Bichi reportedly convinced the president that Mr Bashir was due for a “strategic course” at a university in Buenos Aires, Argentina.