Published 25th Oct, 2024

By FIJ

A federal high court in Abuja has invited Adeola Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), to address a potential contempt that could warrant his detention.

TheCable reported some of the contents of the invitation on Friday.

“…And take further notice that you are hereby required to attend the court on the first mentioned day to show cause why an order for your committal should not be made,” part of the notice issued by the court registrar on Thursday read.

This stemmed from the DSS’ handling of Nnamdi Kanu, the tried leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in its custody.

Justice Binta Nyako, of the federal high court, had ordered that Kanu have access to his legal team three times weekly. The DSS had failed to comply.

“You have since 27th September 2024 to date not allowed the applicant’s counsel to have any visitation with him,” the court notice stated.

“On account of the above, you have thus not complied with the three days per week visitation to the applicant as was ordered by the court.

“By blocking counsel visitation to the applicant, you have thus not allowed such facility that is required for the preparation of the applicant’s defence.”

The court had issued a “form 48 notice of consequences of disobedience to the order of court” against Ajayi on October 18.

It warned Ajayi that he would be guilty of contempt of court and could face imprisonment if he disobeyed Justice Nyako’s orders concerning Kanu.

The DSS, also known as the State Security Service (SSS), is one of Nigeria’s leading intelligence agencies primarily concerned with tracking crimes against the country’s internal security.

Kanu is on trial over terrorism charges linked to his role as a separatist leader.

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