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Court orders DSS DG to appear in person for alleged contempt in Kanu‘s case
A Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), over claims of contempt related to the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to a court document issued by the registrar on October 24, 2024, the DG is required to appear before the court to explain why he should not face imprisonment for allegedly disregarding court orders.
The notice states, “And take further notice that you are hereby required to attend the court on the first mentioned day to show cause why an order for your committal should not be made.”
The court highlighted the DSS’s failure to comply with a previous order permitting Kanu’s lawyers to visit him for three days each week at the DSS facility in Abuja, allowing him to prepare his defense. Despite the directives from Justice Binta Nyako, the lawyers, led by Aloy Ejimakor Esq, were reportedly denied access on October 22 based on instructions from the DG.
This latest order has been communicated to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), along with the prosecution counsel for the federal government, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
Kanu, who faces a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, had previously requested Justice Nyako to recuse herself from the case on September 24. However, the matter has since been reassigned to continue under the same judge.
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