Guardian Newspaper Apologizes to SSS, Denies Any Malicious Intent
Guardian Newspapers Limited has officially apologized to the State Security Service (SSS) over a recent report that mistakenly portrayed the agency as interfering in the affairs of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The controversial report, titled “Lagos Assembly Crisis Worsens, Reveals Deeper Crack in State Power Dynamics,” claimed that operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the Lagos Assembly. However, after receiving a letter from the SSS’s legal team, Adedipe & Adedipe, requesting a retraction and apology, Guardian clarified the situation. The newspaper explained that it had not initially realized that the Assembly itself had invited the DSS officers for security reasons.
In response, Guardian issued a follow-up article on February 24, 2025, titled “Lagos State Assembly Crisis: No Malice Against DSS,” where it retracted the original claims and expressed its regret. The newspaper’s legal adviser, Eki Durojaiye, emphasized that the misrepresentation was unintentional and not meant to mislead the public or harm the reputation of the SSS.
Guardian further assured that the mistake was an honest oversight, with no agenda against the security agency. In its official statement, the media house extended a sincere and unreserved apology to the SSS, acknowledging any inconvenience the publication may have caused.
This development highlights the importance of fact-checking in journalism and the responsibility of media organizations to correct errors when they occur.
