The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a serious warning to Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), due to his persistent disregard for a court directive. The court notice made it clear that Ajayi could face imprisonment if he continues to block Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from meeting with his legal team.
Dated October 18, 2024, the formal notice emphasized the necessity for the DSS to strictly follow the court’s ruling, which permits Kanu’s lawyers to visit him on three designated days each week—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The court warned that failure to comply with this directive would lead to a finding of contempt against Ajayi, which is punishable by jail time.
Aloy Ejimakor, who serves as the Special Counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, confirmed the development, stating that the court’s decision was triggered by continuous complaints about the DSS’s refusal to grant Kanu’s legal team access to their client. According to Ejimakor, despite a standing court order, the newly appointed Director-General of the DSS has, for almost a month, obstructed all attempts by Kanu’s lawyers to visit him. He further elaborated that the court’s notice acts as a pre-emptive measure, alerting the DSS chief to the legal repercussions of further defiance. Should these violations persist, Kanu’s legal representatives are prepared to initiate full contempt proceedings against Ajayi, which could lead to his imprisonment.
It is crucial to recall that Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment handed down on May 20, 2024, amended the conditions of Kanu’s detention to facilitate better access for his legal team. The court stipulated that Kanu’s attorneys be permitted to meet with him three times a week and instructed that a secure and private consultation room be set up within the DSS facility. This space was intended to ensure that Kanu could effectively collaborate with up to five members of his
