Eight of Igboho’s Associates Finally Regain Freedom

* As hope rises for remaining four

By Alex Enumah

Eight associates of Yoruba Nation agitator, Mr Sunday Adeyemo otherwise known as Sunday Igboho, on Monday regained their freedom from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Their release may not be unconnected with the threat by their lawyer, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, to commence committal to prison process against the Director General of DSS over his refusal to release them days after a Federal High Court signed the warrant for their release on bail.

The DSS, following a mid night raid on Igboho’s residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on July 1 had arrested 12 persons — 11 males and one female — and brought them to Abuja for interrogation.

However, after weeks of detention with no charges filed against them, the agitators subsequently filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the DSS, asking the court to order their unconditional release.

In his ruling, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja admitted eight of the applicants to bail in the sum of N5 million each and two sureties in like sum, while the remaining were granted bail in the sum of N10 million because the DSS had opposed their bail.

After perfecting their bail, the court then issued a warrant for their release, but it was alleged that the Director General of the DSS, Mr Yusuf Bichi, blocked lawyers from giving effect to the release warrants since Monday when they were served on him.

The situation led their lawyer last Friday to threaten legal action against Bichi for the agency’s alleged failure to comply with an order of court for the release of his clients.

However, the DSS on Monday finally released eight out of the 12 to their lawyer.

Addressing journalists shortly after their release at his office in Asokoro, Abuja, Pelumi stated that but for some technical issues, the whole 12 detainees would have been released.

Pelumi, however, said he would not hesitate to file a contempt proceedings against the DSS if the remaining four were not release on Tuesday.

He thanked all Nigerians and some senior lawyers, as well as journalists, for their support during the period, assuring Nigerians that he is ready always to stand with the people against any form of injustice.