The Department of State Services (DSS) has released two more aides of Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo.
Their lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi confirmed their release on Friday via a statement issued to Channels Television, about 60 days after detaining Igboho’s aide during a raid in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He however noted that two other aides – Amudat Habibat Babatunde and Jamiu Noah Oyetunji – remain in the unlawful custody of the DSS, vowing to file a contempt of court against the secret service.
“Sequel to the refusal of the DSS to release the other detainees, concerted efforts were immediately made to resolve all technical issues raised by the DSS. Accordingly, on Friday the 3rd of September, 2021, all issues raised were resolved and we proceeded to the Headquarters of the DSS to demand the immediate release of the four (4) remaining detainees in their custody,” the statement read.
“Regrettably and in the whimsical habit of the DSS, only two of the remaining four received their freedom while the other two namely; Amudat Habibat Babatunde and Jamiu Noah Oyetunji, remain in the unlawful custody of the DSS. No valid reasons on law were availed the Legal Team for this willful disobedience of the rule of law and court.”
On August 4, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting granted bail to the 12 detainees but the DSS only released eight on August 31.
The detainees had met their bail conditions including the provision of 24 sureties, though the DSS lawyer, Idowu Awo, had kicked against the bail granted by Justice Egwuatu to four of them, claiming that they were heavily involved in the alleged offence of arms stockpiling and other criminal activities of their boss, Igboho.
But Olajengbesi warned that should the DSS refuse to release the remaining two aides, he would file contempt of court charges against its Director-General, Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
He noted that DSS is a law enforcement agency and should not be allowed to carry out its official responsibility with impunity and absolute disrespect to the law of the land, especially where the constitutional rights and liberty of citizens are at stake.
See the full statement here:
‘DSS’ RELEASES TWO MORE IGBOHO’S Aides – Tajudeen Irinloye and Uthman Opeymi Adelabu
“DSS’ SELECTIVE OBEDIENCE TO COURT ORDER; AN AFFRONT TO AND DISREGARD OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE COURT”
By. Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.
The keenly observing world will recall that during our last press briefing on the on-going case of Chief Sunday Igboho’s aides, it was reported that the DSS is yet to release four (4) of detainees on their custody on grounds of bail perfection technicality, in which we were allowed to secure the release of others.
Sequel to the refusal of the DSS to release the other detainees, concerted efforts were immediately made to resolve all technical issues raised by the DSS. Accordingly, on Friday the 3rd of September, 2021, all issues raised were resolved and we proceeded to the Headquarters of the DSS to demand the immediate release of the four (4) remaining detainees in their custody.
Regrettably and in the whimsical habit of the DSS, only two of the remaining four received their freedom while the other two namely; Amudat Habibat Babatunde and Jamiu Noah Oyetunji, remain in the unlawful custody of the DSS. No valid reasons on law were availed the Legal Team for this willful disobedience of the rule of law and court.
The DSS’ cherry-picking of an order of the court is an open dare and affront on the authority of the issuing court and it lacks legal backing under the extant laws of Nigeria. It is a condemnable action in any sane democratic society and speaks ill of the professionalism of the intelligence agency. The DSS simply have no right nor power to select or unilaterally handpick which order of the court is convenient for it to obey or honor. Any iota of non-compliance to an order of the court is tantamount to disregard of such an order in its entirety and the same is contemptuous.
Consequently, we want to restate that if by Monday the 6th of September, 2021, the DSS continue with their unlawful detention of the remaining two (2) detainees, we shall not hesitate to proceed with our earlier plans to institute a contempt proceeding against the Director-General of the SSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
The DSS as a law enforcement agency should not be allowed to carry out its official responsibility with impunity and absolute disrespect to the law of the land, especially where the constitutional rights and liberty of citizens are at stake. It is reprehensible conduct unbecoming of an agency that is itself a creation of the law and it will not go unchallenged.
Thank you.
Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq.
Principal Partner
Law Corridor
0 Comments