FEDERAL HIGH COURT ORDERS DSS TO GET DETAINED IGHOHO’S AIDES, AUG 2
Dayo Olujuwon
The Federal High Court in Abuja has again ordered the Department of State Service, DSS to bring to it, the detained 12 aides of Sunday Ighoho, Yoruba activist, on August 2.
The 12 aides of Sunday Ighoho have been detained since July 2, 2021. The court had earlier ordered DSS to make available the bail of the aides on July 23, but it was not followed by the agency.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, gave the agency another date, August 2, 2021, for the bail consideration after the Agency’s counsel Mr. Idowu Awo pleaded for another date.
The DSS counsel explained that the reason why they could not produce the detained aides is because of the nature of their arrest and detention.
He argued that he had filed a counter-affidavit to explain the dimensions and sophistication of the investigation being carried out on the detainees.
The counsel also informed that the DSS obtained an order of the court permitting the detention of the applicants to interrogate them. The counsel also submitted that some names on the Federal High Court order were at variance with those being detained, adding that only four out of 12 names correspond with that of DSS.
However, Justice Egwuatu was not convinced by the arguments, replying that the order of the court was in English language and unambiguous that the detainees be produced in court.
The judge stated that the order is meant to be obeyed to the letter after which the DSS can subsequently offer explanations for their detention.
The DSS counsel later apologised to the court and sought an adjournment to enable them comply with the court order.