APC office invasion: DSS shuns court order
The Department of States
Security Service on Friday failed to bring before a Federal High Court
in Lagos the five data processing officers of the All Progressives
Congress it arrested during a raid of the party’s data office in Lagos.
The five officials, Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Augustine Onuchukwu, Ebun Ilori, and Esther Enemy, have been in the detention of the DSS since last week Saturday that the raid was carried out.
But Justice Mohammed Yunusa, had on Wednesday, while ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the APC against the DSS, ordered the respondents to produce the said five detained officers in court on Friday.
The judge, in addition, had ordered the DSS to unseal the party’s property. The DSS was also restrained from further raiding the applicant’s property.
Joined as respondents in the suit were the Nigeria Police and the DSS.
At the resumed hearing in the matter on Friday, counsel for the APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), informed the court that both the respondents had been duly served, adding that the DSS was expected to bring the detained officers to court in compliance with the order of court.
“The first respondent were served here (Lagos) and in Abuja. We also served the second respondent. Pursuant to the orders of this court, same processes were served in Abuja and they were accepted. Proof of service is in the court’s file.
“The SSS ought today, in obedience of the orders of my Lord, to produce the five applicants,” Osinbajo told Justice Yunusa.
But responding, counsel for the DSS, Mr. Peter Okerinmodun, said his client was not aware of the court order, claiming that service of the order had yet to be confirmed.
“My appearance today is from what I read in newspapers.
“I made contact with the headquarters to ascertain the authenticity. They said there was no service on them. Even as of this morning, nobody has confirmed. So I was not briefed,” Okerinmondun said.
The counsel then pleaded for time to confirm service and do the needful.
He said, “I want to get across to Abuja whether they have collected the service. We are never known for disobeying my Lord’s orders.”
Consequently, Justice Yunusa said the court would adjourn till December 1, 2014 to allow the DSS comply with the order of the court.
The DSS had reportedly raided the APC data office in Lagos on the claim that it got intelligence information that some “unwholesome activities” were being perpetrated inside the building.
The agency had sealed up the office after reportedly seizing some documents and computer hard drives and arresting the officers at work.
The five officials, Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Augustine Onuchukwu, Ebun Ilori, and Esther Enemy, have been in the detention of the DSS since last week Saturday that the raid was carried out.
But Justice Mohammed Yunusa, had on Wednesday, while ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the APC against the DSS, ordered the respondents to produce the said five detained officers in court on Friday.
The judge, in addition, had ordered the DSS to unseal the party’s property. The DSS was also restrained from further raiding the applicant’s property.
Joined as respondents in the suit were the Nigeria Police and the DSS.
At the resumed hearing in the matter on Friday, counsel for the APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), informed the court that both the respondents had been duly served, adding that the DSS was expected to bring the detained officers to court in compliance with the order of court.
“The first respondent were served here (Lagos) and in Abuja. We also served the second respondent. Pursuant to the orders of this court, same processes were served in Abuja and they were accepted. Proof of service is in the court’s file.
“The SSS ought today, in obedience of the orders of my Lord, to produce the five applicants,” Osinbajo told Justice Yunusa.
But responding, counsel for the DSS, Mr. Peter Okerinmodun, said his client was not aware of the court order, claiming that service of the order had yet to be confirmed.
“My appearance today is from what I read in newspapers.
“I made contact with the headquarters to ascertain the authenticity. They said there was no service on them. Even as of this morning, nobody has confirmed. So I was not briefed,” Okerinmondun said.
The counsel then pleaded for time to confirm service and do the needful.
He said, “I want to get across to Abuja whether they have collected the service. We are never known for disobeying my Lord’s orders.”
Consequently, Justice Yunusa said the court would adjourn till December 1, 2014 to allow the DSS comply with the order of the court.
The DSS had reportedly raided the APC data office in Lagos on the claim that it got intelligence information that some “unwholesome activities” were being perpetrated inside the building.
The agency had sealed up the office after reportedly seizing some documents and computer hard drives and arresting the officers at work.
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