‘No Arrest in Civil Cases’ — DSS DG Ajayi Directs Operatives

The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, has ordered personnel of the agency not to make arrests in connection with civil disputes.

Ajayi said the directive was part of a series of reforms implemented since he became DSS Director-General, with the aim of reinforcing respect for the rule of law and improving the agency’s human rights record.

Speaking during a media interview on Thursday, the DSS chief, according to The Sun, said the reforms were built around five key areas: law enforcement, inter-agency synergy, accountability, respect for human rights, as well as infrastructural and administrative reforms.

He explained that the reforms had helped the agency draw a clearer line between civil and criminal matters.

Ajayi said his experience within the service showed that civil and criminal issues had previously sometimes been treated alike, insisting that force should not be used to resolve civil disputes.

“You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters. Even some criminal matters don’t require force,” he stated.

He pointed to the case of political economist Prof. Pat Utomi, who was linked to allegations surrounding an attempt to establish a “shadow government”.

Rather than arrest Utomi, Ajayi said the DSS opted to seek judicial interpretation of the matter.

“Rather than arrest him, we sought judicial interpretation. And the Court ruled that his adventure was unconstitutional, illegal, and a threat to national security,” he said.

Ajayi also mentioned the legal dispute involving SERAP after the organisation approached the court over allegations that two DSS operatives invaded its premises.

According to him, the DSS chose to pursue the matter through legal channels instead of making arrests. He added that the court eventually awarded more than N100 million to SERAP.

When asked if the DSS had adopted court action as its preferred approach to civil matters, Ajayi said the agency had and restated his instruction to operatives.

“I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case. And I’m sure you have found out that, even in cases involving journalists, we would rather approach the court because we do the same job.

“I call you guys our professional colleagues. The only difference is that, while you inform the public, we inform the government. And because we inform the government, our information is classified until we declassify it.”

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