Court strikes out DSS suit challenging Sunday Igboho’s aides’ bail

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a motion filed by the Department of State Service, DSS, seeking further detention of four out of the 12 aides of Yoruba secessionist leader, Sunday Igboho.

The motion was thrown out by the Judge on Tuesday following its dramatic withdrawal by counsel to the DSS, Mr Idowu Awo.

At the resumption of the matter, when the motion was to be heard, DSS lawyer stunned the court when he announced his decision not to go ahead with the matter.

Rather than going ahead with the motion, the counsel informed the court that he had filed a notice of appeal against the bail granted to four out of the 12 detainees and that he would prefer to pursue the appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently struck out the motion following the no objection by the detainee’s lawyer, Mr Sunday Adebayo.

Counsel to the detainees, Sunday Adeyemi said for the other eight respondents, their release order had been signed by the court and in the process of perfection for their release.

Justice Egwuatu had granted bail to 12 of Sunday Igboho’s associates held in custody since July 2, 2021.

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The court in its earlier judgement held that there was no charge against the applicants. It, however, admitted four of the applicant’s bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum, while the remaining eight were granted bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety each.

The four applicants who were granted N10 million bail are; Amudat Babatunde (AKA Lady K), Okoyemi Tajudeen, Abideen Shittu, and Jamiu Oyetunji.

The others admitted to N5 million bail are; Abdulateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Erinoye, Diekola Jubril, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Oluwafemi Kunle, Raji Kazeem and Bamidele Sunday.

One of the sureties the court held must be an employee of the federal government at grade level 12 and above.

The sureties who must be residents in Abuja and have properties must swear to an affidavit of means.

The judge also ordered that residents’ deeds of the said property must be verified by the court registrar and the DSS in addition to evidence of three years of tax payment.

The sureties are also to submit all travel documents to the court.

Meanwhile, the four applicants were also ordered to report to the DSS on the first Monday of every month for the next three months.

Egwuatu in addition had held that the four applicants should remain in the custody of the DSS pending the perfection of their bail.

In early August, an Oyo State High Court granted an ex-parte motion prohibiting the DSS and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, from arresting Sunday Igboho.

The court also went further to restrain the DSS and Malami from freezing Igboho’s financial assets, as well as restrict any form of intimidation and harassment by the duo.

The DSS paraded Sunday Ighoho’s aides on July 1 after a raid on his home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

During the operation, the security operatives arrested 12 of them and moved them to Abuja where they were detained.

The detainees were accused of stockpiling arms to cause chaos in the country.

Thereafter, the suspects filed an application through their lawyer, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, in which they prayed the court to inquire into the circumstances that led to their arrest and detention since July 2.

Olajengbesi had also prayed the court to admit his clients to bail, a request that was granted by Justice Egwuatu on August 4.

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