July 23, (THEWILL) – Justice Obirora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce before or on next Thursday 12 associates of the Yoruba secessionist agitator, Sunday Igboho, arrested during a raid on his house on July 2.
The court gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application argued by lawyer to the 12 detainees.
Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi had told the court that the 12 associates of Igboho were arrested during a DSS raid on the Yoruba Nationalist’s house in Ibadan on July 2 and have been kept incommunicado since then.
The detainees are: Abdullateef Ofeyagbe, Amuda Babatunde (alias Lady K), Tajudeen Erinoyen, Diekola Ademola, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah, Ayobami Donald, Adelabe Usman, Oluwapelumi Kunle, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Opeyemi and Bamidele Sunday.
Justice Ewuatu, in his ruling, ordered the DSS to produce them in court on the next date to enable the court inquire into the circumstances leading to their arrest and continued detention.
The Judge also ordered the DSS to show cause why the 12 detainees should not be released on either conditional or unconditional bail.
He ordered that in view of the urgency involved in the case, further hearing in the Fundamental Rights enforcement suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/647/2, filed by the detainees, shall be heard during the court’s vacation.
Hearing on the case has been adjourned to July 29.
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