The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a “notice of consequences” against Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), for allegedly defying court orders by denying Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), access to his legal team.
The notice, dated October 18, 2024, and signed by the court registrar, warned that the DSS Director could face imprisonment if the court’s directives are not followed. It emphasized that Kanu’s lawyers must be allowed to visit him on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as previously ordered.
The notice reads:
“TAKE NOTICE that unless you obey the directions contained in this Order—by allowing the Applicant’s Counsel to conduct court-ordered visits—you will be guilty of Contempt of Court and liable to imprisonment.”
Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development, expressing frustration over the DSS’s repeated non-compliance. He stated, “The newly appointed DSS Director has, for nearly a month, denied our legal team access to Mazi Kanu, in clear violation of the court’s order.”
Ejimakor further clarified, “This notice serves as a warning of the legal consequences for contempt of court. If the DSS Director continues on this path, we will be left with no choice but to initiate formal contempt proceedings.”
The dispute follows an earlier ruling by Justice Binta Nyako on May 20, 2024, which modified the terms of Kanu’s detention. The ruling mandated that Kanu be given a secure room within the DSS facility to meet with a legal team of up to five members for case preparation. The order also required that his legal team be provided with necessary resources and be allowed to take notes during their meetings.
However, Kanu’s lawyers have accused the DSS of not only secretly recording their conversations but also obstructing access altogether, undermining their ability to prepare his defense.
The court’s latest notice signals escalating tensions and raises the possibility of contempt proceedings against the DSS Director if the disobedience persists.
