In a shocking turn of events, agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed a State High Court in Ilaro, Ogun State, leading to the arrest of two individuals on trial.
This incident has sparked widespread indignation.
The individuals in question, Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were defendants in a case identified as HCP/IC/2023, which involved the State versus Awode Oladosu and 13 others. The presiding judge was Justice A.A. Shobayo.
The case revolved around an arson accusation lodged by Chief Akeem Adigun (also known as Socopao) against Alhaji Isiaka Fatai, Oyero, and 12 other individuals.
Recently, the Agosasa community in the Ipokia Local Government Area of the state was embroiled in a crisis. This conflict, centered around a dispute over the town’s Obaship, resulted in the destruction of property worth billions of naira and the loss of a life.
Chaos ensued when DSS operatives descended upon the court premises and apprehended the suspects. Kehinde Bamiwola, the counsel for Alhaji Isiaka, alleged in a statement that the DSS operatives used force on the two defendants, claiming that “Alhaji Isiaka Fatai was subjected to physical abuse and mistreatment.”
Comrade Omololu Olusanya, the Principal Registrar of the High Court and Sectional Head of High Court, Ilaro, confirmed the incident. He described it as a shocking disregard for the rule of law. He noted that despite the judge’s order prohibiting any arrests within the court premises, the operatives proceeded to arrest the two individuals.
He said, “They went ahead with their actions to the point of assaulting one of our staff members, Mrs. Fadina, while carrying out the act. It’s a very distressing issue that caused a lot of commotion within the court premises.”
He added, “We learned from a source that they were DSS agents. If anyone saw them, they would think they were armed robbers. They did not wear anything that identified them as DSS, but they approached the judge this morning and stated they had some people to arrest. That was when we realized they were DSS officers.”
Despite the judge’s advice that any arrests should be made outside the court premises, the DSS operatives ignored this counsel and carried out the arrest within the premises.
At the time of reporting, Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesman, had not responded to calls or text messages.
