NIGERIA: Lawyer threatens The State Security Service [SSS] with contempt proceedings

 

The State Security Service (SSS) have been issued 48 hours ultimatum to comply with a release order of the Federal High Court on the 12 detained associates of Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo Osha, or face contempt proceedings.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Pelumi Olajengbesi, counsel to the detainees, also called on international bodies and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to intervene on the constant disobedience of court orders by officials of the State Security Service.

Read the full transcript of the press conference.

Gentlemen of the Press.

It has become imperative and urgent to make this brief address in light of the vindictive and oppressive conduct of the State Security Service in the matter involving twelve detained associates of Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Igboho.

In the wee hours of the 1st of July, 2021, a joint team of men from the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigerian Military, with neither lawful cause nor a warrant of arrest, broke into the Ibadan home of Yoruba Nation activist popularly known as Sunday Igboho and extra-judicially murdered two of his associates while rounding up, bounding and abducting twelve others to be incarcerated without cause in the dungeons of the SSS where they continue to languish without reprieve to this day.

All twelve detainees who were immediately subjected to degrading conditions of detention and torture were denied access to their lawyers by the SSS up until the intervention of the court through an order recognising and re-emphasizing the detainees’ right to legal representation against whatever allegations against them.

Regrettably and indeed unacceptably, while no charges, in full or tentatively, have been preferred against all twelve detainees, the SSS have failed and refused to honour an order of court which granted bail to and ordered the release of all twelve detainees upon the perfection of the terms of their bail which have now been fully satisfied and duly communicated to the SSS.

The refusal of the SSS to honour a clear order of court, though habitual, is not only worrisome and unacceptable but is an affront on the authority of the court and our entire judicial system. Such blatant disregard for, and contemptuous, spiteful and insolent disrespect of an order of court if allowed to fester would undermine the very integrity of the court and breed even newer levels of rascality by STATE AGENTS. It would also amount to surrendering the freedom and rights of all twelve detainees to the whims and caprices of an agency that has gone rogue and thrives in wilful disobedience of court orders.

In light of this, we are giving the SSS, particularly its Director-General, forty-eight (48) hours and not an hour more, within which to fully obey and comply with the release order of the court in favour of all twelve detained associates of Mr. Sunday Igboho or face contempt proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction with the full weight and recompense of the court brought to bear against his insolence and disregard of court order.

Take notice that we will not fail to exhaust all legal and social remedy available to the detainees in enforcing their rights in this matter and setting the tone against the SSS’ notorious disregard of due process and the rule of law.

Thank you.

Signed:

PELUMI OLAJENGBESI ESQ

Legal Practitioner