DSS DG Bars Operatives From Civil-Matter Arrests

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed DSS operatives not to arrest anyone over civil matters.

Ajayi gave the directive in a media interview as part of reforms he said were meant to strengthen respect for the rule of law, improve human-rights compliance and draw a clearer line between civil disputes and criminal matters.

He said the service had previously mixed up civil and criminal issues in some cases, adding that the use of force was not appropriate for civil disputes.

Punch and Vanguard reported that Ajayi cited the DSS’s handling of matters involving political economist Pat Utomi and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project as examples of the agency choosing court processes instead of arrests.

Daily Trust’s full interview also covered the agency’s internal discipline, its work with other security bodies and its human-rights record. Ajayi said the DSS had punished officers involved in unethical conduct and, in some cases, compensated victims without waiting for litigation.

The directive is likely to draw attention because the DSS has often faced public criticism over arrests, detention and alleged misuse of security powers in disputes that critics say should be handled by the courts.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard and Daily Trust