Court strikes out DSS suit seeking further detention of four Igboho’s aides

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out a motion filed by the Department of the State Service (DSS) seeking further detention of four out of 12 aides of the Yoruba secessionist leader, Sunday Adeyemo (aka Igboho)

The motion was thrown out by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following its dramatic withdrawal by counsel to DSS, Idowu Awo.

When the matter was called, on Tuesday, counsel to the DSS informed the court of his decision not to go ahead with the matter as he had filed a notice of appeal against the bail granted the four out of the 12 detainees.

The DSS counsel told Justice Egwuatu 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 counsel to the detainees, Sunday Adebayo.

The court had, on August 4, 2021, granted bail to the 12 associates of the alleged Yoruba secessionist leader, held in the custody of the DSS on July 2, 2021.

Justice Egwuatu, in his ruling on the bail applications of the detainees, held that there is no charge against them and went ahead to admit four of the applicants to 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 on 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 the title deeds of the said property of the sureties must be verified by the Court registrar and the DSS in addition to evidence of three years of tax payment.

The court said the sureties must also submit all travel documents to the court and that, the four applicants, admitted to N10 million bail should be reporting to the DSS on the first Monday of every month for the next three months.

Igboho’s aides were arrested during the raid of his Ibadan (Oyo State) residence on July 1, 2021

The DSS said in an affidavit that its July 1 raid on Igboho’s residence was a joint operation by its operatives and men of the Nigerian Army, adding that, the raid was informed by the suspicion that Igboho and his associates were involved in criminal activities.

The DSS added that its operatives recovered a number of arms and ammunition during the raid, noting that investigation in the case “has assumed a wider dimension and sophistication.”

The security agency stated that “The activities of the applicants in custody constitute a threat to the national security of Nigeria.

“Any attempt to grant the applicants ball at this stage of investigation may jeopardise ongoing investigation in the matter.

“The respondents will not hesitate to formally charge the applicants to a court or bring them before the court at the conclusion of the investigation.”

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