The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, has ordered that operatives of the agency should henceforth stop arresting anyone over civil matters.
Penpushing reports that Ajayi gave the directive while featuring in a media interview on Thursday, explaining that the directive was part of measures to strengthen adherence to the rule of law and improve the agency’s human rights record.
The Director-General pointed out that since assuming office, he had introduced reforms across five broad areas: law enforcement, inter-agency synergy, accountability, respect for human rights and infrastructural and administrative reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency.
Penpushing further reports that Ajayi stated that the reforms had equally brought about a clearer distinction between civil and criminal matters within the agency, adding that his career experience had shown that the Department of State Services (DSS), previously conflated the two areas, stressing that the use of force was inappropriate in civil disputes.
The Director General emphasized that the operatives of the agency cannot apply the use of force in civil matters, pointing out that, even some criminal matters don’t require force.
Penpushing also reports that he cited the case involving political economist, Prof Pat Utomi, over allegations relating to an attempt to establish a “shadow government”, saying the agency opted to seek judicial interpretation rather than arrest him.
“Rather than arrest him, we sought judicial interpretation. And the Court ruled that his adventure was unconstitutional, illegal, and a threat to national security,’, Ajayi recalled.
Penpushing reports that he referred to a case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, explaining that the organisation approached the court over allegations that two DSS operatives invaded its premises.
The Director General said the matter was pursued in court without any arrest, adding that the court eventually awarded more than N100m in favour of SERAP.
Penpushing further reports that Ajayi on whether the agency now resorts to the courts in civil matters, replied in affirmative, stressing that he has warned the operatives against involving in civil case
“Yes. I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case. And I’m sure you have found out that, even in cases involving journalists, we would rather approach the court because we do the same job’, he said.
“I call you guys our professional colleagues. The only difference is that, while you inform the public, we inform the Government. And because we inform the Government, our information is classified until we declassify it’, Ajayi added
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