The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a summons for Adeola Ajayi, the Director-General of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), to appear before the court and justify why he should not face imprisonment for contempt.
The summons, signed by the court registrar, requires Ajayi’s appearance and directs him to “show cause why an order for your committal should not be made.”
The court order arises from allegations that the DSS has failed to adhere to a directive from Justice Binta Nyako, who had previously ordered the agency to facilitate Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), access to his legal team three times a week. According to court records, the DSS has not allowed Kanu’s counsel any visitation since September 27, despite the court-mandated schedule. This restriction, the court noted, has impeded Kanu’s defense preparation, thereby violating his legal rights.
In response, on October 18, the court issued a “Form 48 Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to the Order of Court,” warning Ajayi that further non-compliance would constitute contempt and could lead to imprisonment.
Kanu, who has been in DSS custody since his controversial extradition from Kenya in 2021, is currently facing seven charges, including treasonable felony.
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