DSS appeals bail granted to Igboho supporters

The Department of State Services (DSS) has withdrawn an application before a federal high court in Abuja, seeking to cancel the bail granted to four supporters of Sunday Igboho.

DSS operatives had, on July 1, raided Igboho’s residence in Oyo and arrested 12 of his supporters.

The arrested persons were subsequently moved to the federal capital territory (FCT) where they have been in detention.

Obiora Egwatu, the judge, had on August 4, granted bail to the 12 supporters after Pelumi Olajengbesi, their lawyer, filed an application asking the court to “inquire into the circumstances constituting grounds of their arrest and detention since July 2, 2021, and where it deems fit admit applicants on bail”.

But the DSS filed an application asking the court to cancel the bail granted to four of the 12 persons — 2nd, 4th, 5th and 12th applicants.

According to the state services, the four persons are still under investigation.

However, at the court session on Tuesday, Idowu Awo, DSS counsel, announced his decision to withdraw the application.

Awo said the agency is challenging the bail granted to the four persons at the court of appeal.

“We, therefore, seek to withdraw the motion on notice filed on August 9, 2021, while we intend to pursue an appeal,” he said.

Since the request was unopposed, the judge struck out the application.

The judge has signed the order releasing the four persons.