By PASCHAL NJOKU, Abuja

Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, lawyer to the 12 detained associates of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho has threatened to commence contempt proceedings against the Director-General of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, over the agency’s alleged failure to comply with an order of a Federal High Court Abuja, for the release of his clients.

Olajengbesi claimed that the release warrants signed by Justice Obiora Egwuatu after the detainees had perfected the bail granted them by the court could not be executed due to the alleged refusal of the DSS to let the 12 detainees out of its detention facility in Abuja.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, on Friday, Olajengbesi said his clients had, last week, fulfilled the bail conditions given by Justice Egwuatu, upon which the judge signed their release warrant on Monday.

Olajengbesi said despite being served with the release warrant issued by the court, the DSS has refused to release the detainees, who were arrested during the July 1 raid on Igboho’s Ibadan home by a combined team of security operatives.

They have been in detention since then.

“The refusal of the SSS to honour a clear order of the court, though habitual, is not only worrisome and unacceptable but is an affront on the authority of the court and our entire judicial system.

“Such blatant disregard for, and contemptuous, spiteful and insolent disrespect of an Order of court if allowed to fester would undermine the very integrity of the court and breed even newer levels of rascality by state agents.

“It would also amount to surrendering the freedom and rights of all twelve detainees to the whims and caprices of an agency that has gone rogue and thrives in willful disobedience of court orders.

“In light of this, we are giving the SSS, particularly its Director-General, forty-eight (48) hours and not an hour more, within which to fully obey and comply with the release order of the court in favour of all twelve detained associates of Mr. Sunday Igboho or face contempt proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction with the full weight and recompense of the court brought to bear against his insolence and disregard of a court order.

“Take notice that we will not fail to exhaust all legal and social remedy available to the detainees in enforcing their rights in this matter and setting the tone against the SSS’ notorious disregard of due process and the rule of law.” (Daily Independent)

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