BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
THE Department of State Services, on Wednesday, explained why four out of the 12 persons arrested at the residence of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, should not be released from detention.
The DSS, through its lawyer, I. Awo, told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that its investigations revealed that the four detained associates of Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, were deeply involved in stockpiling arms.
The detained associates are Amudat Habitat Babatunde, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah Oyetunji and Bamidele Sunday.
The DSS argued that the four applicants would escape from the country like Igboho, once released from detention and would not make themselves available for further investigation or trial.
According to the security agency, the principal of the four applicants, Igboho, is currently standing criminal trial in Benin Republic, after he was declared wanted in Nigeria.
The DSS stated, “Rather than to turn himself in, he decided to flee this country. There is no guarantee that these four applicants will not follow same if released on bail.
“There are credible information on how friends, family and associates of these same four Applicants are making contacts with potential witnesses identified by the DSS.
“Some have been pressurised not to turn up in an event that they will be tried. These 4 Applicants will jeopardise ongoing investigation if realeased.
“Finally, it is our submission that once investigation is concluded, the Respondents will not hesitate to charge them to court.
“At that point, we may conceed to an accelerated trial. We do not want to take for granted the safety of our potential witnesses.
“We therefore ask this court to deny these four Applicants bail, in order not frustrate this process.”
The DSS counsel prayed the court for leave to detain the four applicants for another 14 days to enable it to conclude its investigations.
The security agency said it would not, however, opposed the request for eight other persons it arrested at Igboho’s residence on July 1, to be released on bail by the court.
The eight detained applicants reportedly involved in Igboho’s alleged criminal activities, are Abdulateef Ademola Onaolapo, Tajudeen Irinyole, Diekola Jubril Ademola, Ayobami Donald and Uthman Opeyemi Adelabu.
Counsel to the applicants, Pelumi Olajengbesi, prayed the court to discountenance the submission by counsel to the DSS and release the 12 detained persons on bail.
“It will be an affront on our Constitution and gross violation of their fundamental human rights if the Applicants are allowed to remain in custody of the Respondents.
“The Respondents do not need 34 days to investigate the persons it claimed that it found with fire arms,” he submitted.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu stood the case down to write his ruling.
