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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted the bail application brought before it by the 12 detained aides o Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered all the detained aides to be admitted to bail.
He gave the order after a two-hour recess, following the submissions of the counsels.
Counsel to the 12 detained aides, Pelumi Olajengbesi, had prayed the court to admit them to bail unconditionally.
Opposing the bail application, the DSS counseling, David Awo,, said he was not opposed to bail for the 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th applicants.
He, however, told the court that the remaining four applicants (2nd, 12, 5th and 6th) were still being investigated.Advertisement
He said the DSS is not opposed to the release of the eight applicants because “their involvement in the offence of arms stockpiling and other criminal activities are minimal.”
“But for the other applicants, we strongly oppose bail.
“Investigation so far has revealed a high level of complicity on their path. As it is, the respondent is still conducting an investigation in this matter.
“We believe it is in the interest of justice and it will not serve the purpose of national security if these applicants are granted bail’),” he said.
He also stated that their investigation was currently ongoing and has not been concluded.
Awo submitted that once investigation is concluded, the DSS will not hesitate to charge them to court.
“The fear of the respondent is that if granted bail, they will not make themselves available for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“If granted bail, they will not make themselves available for investigation and further prosecution.
”There is credible information on how family members, friends and associates of these four applicants are making contact with potential witnesses identified by the service. They are pressuring some of them not to show up,” he added.
But Olajengbesi prayed the court to discountenance the argument of the DSS as it was unknown to Nigerian law.
Olajengbesi stated that the aides have been detained by the DSS for 34 days and are yet to be charged to court for any offence.
He argued that their continued detention violated the provisions of the constitution and was an infringement on their fundamental human right.
Olajengbesi also argued that the DSS does not need 34 days to investigate a person that they claimed was found with firearms.
Relying on the case of Bola Kale V. The State, he argued that the position of the law is that investigation cannot be indefinite.
Olajengbesi urged the court to release aides on bail and assured the court that they will ensure a reasonable surety to give the DSS assurance that the applicants will be available for further investigations.