The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a fresh order directing the Department of State Services to produce before it the twelve associates of the alleged Yoruba secessionist leader, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho. Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the fresh order following an appeal by DSS counsel, Idowu Awo that the agency be given more time to comply with the order. The judge had on July 23 ordered DSS to produce in court the twelve applicants and to explain why they should not be granted bail. But when the matter came up, DSS counsel informed the court that the detained applicants could not be produced in court due to the nature of their arrest and detention. He argued that he filed a counter affidavit to explain the dimensions and sophistication of the investigation being carried out on the detainees. Awo further submitted that DSS obtained an order of court permitting the detention of the applicants for 14 days to interrogate them. Reacting, the plaintiff counsel, Pelumi Olajemgbesi pleaded with the court to sanction the secret police for an act of disrespect to a lawful court order. He faulted the court paper DSS is claiming it obtained for the 14 days detention of the applicants adding that the order was not certified as required by law for public documents. Justice Egwuatu was however, not convinced by the arguments offered by DSS noting that the court order was not unambiguous that the Detained alleged culprits must be brought to court. The Judge held that the order ought to be obeyed to the letter after which the DSS can subsequently offer explanations for their detention. The Judge further prevailed on the DSS to produce the detainees in court not later than Monday, August 2, 2021 for the hearing of their bail application.
