A Federal High Court sitting in FCT, the nation’s capital, on Friday, ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce the 12 detained associates of Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho, who were arrested during the controversial raid of his residence on July 1 in Ibadan.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/647/2021, which was heard without the submission of the DSS as it was about fundamental rights of citizens, trial judge Obiora Egwuatu gave the secret police until July 29 to present those arrested.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order after Counsel to the applicants, Pelumi Olajengbesi, moved the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/647/2021 dated July 7 and filed July 8.
Egwuatu also ordered Nigeria’s secret police to come and show course why the applicants should not be granted bail.
The judge also granted the plea of the applicant, through the affidavit of urgency filed, on why the matter should be heard expeditiously irrespective of the imminent court vacation.
Newsflash Nigeria had reported that 12 of Igboho’s associates were arrested and detained by the DSS on July 1 after a raid on Igboho’s residence in the Soka area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The DSS also said that it “gunned down” two of the activist’s associates during a “gun duel” which Igboho narrowly escaped.
He later declared wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he denied.
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Pelumi Olajengbesi, counsel for the applicants, told the court that his clients have been kept incommunicado since they were arrested without charges, urging the court to order the DSS to produce his clients in court.
“I crave the indulgence of this court in the interest of justice that the world is watching how this noble arm of government will revitalise the consciousness of Nigerians that they can be safe under the law,” Mr Olajengbesi said. “The sole purpose of a democratic society is to abide by the rules provided by the law.”
The judge said the lawyer’s argument had merit and subsequently issued a bench order for the DSS to comply latest by July 29 when the matter would be heard again.
Twelve of Mr Igboho’s relatives who filed that application over their prolonged detention by the DSS include Sunday Bamidele, Taiwo Opeyemi, Oluwafelumi Kunle, Adelabe Usman, Ayobami Donald and Abdulateef Ofeyagbe. Others are Amoda Babatunde, Tajudeen Orinoyen, Abideen Shitu, Jamiu Noah, Diekola Ademola and Raji Kazeem.
