Lawyer: How DSS operatives invaded Ogun court to arrest defendants

Kehinde Bamiwola, a lawyer, has narrated how some operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded the Ogun high court, Ilaro division, to arrest two defendants.

The defendants are Fatai Isiaka and Samuel Oyero.

Bamiwola said Isiaka and Oyero were in court on Monday for a case bordering on alleged arson at the Agosasa community in Ipokia LGA of Ogun state.

In a statement on Tuesday, Bamiwola, the counsel representing Isiaka, said the continuation of proceedings in the case was presided over by A. A. Shobayo, the judge, on Monday.

The lawyer added that during the proceedings, he informed the court about the presence of DSS operatives in the court premises.

Bamiwola said he told the court that Akeen Adigun, a community leader popularly known as Socopao, who is the complainant, had invited the secret police to arrest the defendants.

The lawyer said the judge asked Timilehin Oredehin, the state counsel, to invite the leader of the DSS operatives to the courtroom.

“Their leader was warned and ordered to leave the court premises and that, if at all anyone is to be arrested, it should not be within the court premises as they (DSS) know the houses of their targets or suspects to be arrested,” the statement reads.

“After leaving the court hall, they flouted, disregarded and violated the order of the court by forcefully arresting Alhaji Fatai Isiaka and One Samuel Oyero.

“It took the smartness of the driver to Alhaji Saheed Olabisi to escape the illegal and unconstitutional arrest within the court premises, notwithstanding the order given by his lordship, Hon. Justice A.A. Shobayo.”

BACKGROUND

In February 2022, James Elegbede, the Oja of Agosasa, passed away.

The selection of the next monarch to fill the vacant throne caused tension and violence in the community.

In September 2022, violence erupted in the community over the kingship tussle, which led to the death of three persons and the destruction of properties.

The violence started when the community youths staged a protest to warn against the installation of a candidate whom they described as “unpopular”.

The youths accused Adigun of planning to use “state forces” to install an “unpopular” monarch in the community.

Houses and vehicles belonging to Adigun were set ablaze.