Sunday Igboho: DSS defies court order, fails to produce detained aides

The Department of State Services (DSS) has failed to produce the 12 detained aides of Yoruba-nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo,  better known as ’Sunday Igboho’, in defiance of a court order.

It would be recalled that Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the DSS to produce in court on July 29, the 12 aides who have been in their custody since July 2, 2021.

Their case was expected to proceed regardless of the annual court vacation slated to begin on July 26.

However , since the DSS failed to bring the aides before the court on Thursday, the case has stalled yet again, with Justice Egwatu issuing another order, asking the DSS to produce the 12 aides in court on Monday, August 2.

He noted that when a court of competent Jurisdiction, gives an order, such must be respected and obeyed.

But, counsel to the DSS, David Awo, in his response explained that it wasn’t their intention to disrespect the court.

Awo stressed most of the aides are no longer in their custody as they have now been taken away for verification of facts.

Speaking further, he noted that the DSS has no intention to keep them indefinitely, assuming that they would be released once investigations are completed.

Responding, counsel to the 12 aides, Pelumi Olajenbasi, asked the court to sanction the DSS for what he described as a deliberate act of disrespect.

Olajenbasi asked that the court orders the DSS to release the aides on bail and grant him access to them.

Justice Egwatu, thereafter, made an order directing the DSS to make way for the Counsel to see them between today and the next adjourned date (Monday).

The suspects had earlier sued the DSS before the Federal High Court Abuja, on grounds that their fundamental human rights had been infringed.