Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have stormed a State High Court sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, and arrested two defendants, sparking outrage among legal practitioners and observers, News About Nigeria reports.
The defendants, identified as Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were undergoing trial in a suit marked HCP/IC/2023 between the state and Awode Oladosu & 13 others.
Presided over by Justice A.A. Shobayo, the case centred on allegations of arson reported by Chief Akeem Adigun (aka Socopao) against Fatai, Oyero, and 12 others.
The community of Agosasa in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state recently experienced unrest, with property worth billions of naira destroyed and lives lost due to an Obaship tussle.
The intrusion by DSS operatives caused pandemonium within the court premises as they forcefully took away the suspects.
Counsel to Alhaji Isiaka, Kehinde Bamiwola, alleged that the operatives used excessive force, including physical assault, against the defendants.
According to Omololu Olusanya, the Principal Registrar of the High Court and Sectional Head of High Court, Ilaro, the incident was not only shocking but also disrespectful to the rule of law.
Despite the judge’s directive against making arrests within the court premises, the operatives proceeded to do so, even assaulting a court staff member, Mrs. Fadina, in the process.
Olusanya recounted, “They did not wear anything that identified them as DSS, but they came to my lord this morning and said they had some people to arrest. That was when we knew they were DSS officers.”
He further explained that the judge had advised them to conduct their arrests outside the court premises, a directive that they ignored.
