Abuja high court orders DSS to release four of Sunday Ighoho's aides arrested in Ibadan

AN Abuja federal high court has ordered the immediate release of four of Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo's aides from the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) after they met all the bail conditions set for them.

On July 1 this year, DSS officers raided Mr Adeyemo's Ibadan home, killing two of his aides and arresting 12 others. Mr Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, managed to escape and fled to neighbouring Benin Republic where he is currently fighting extradition to Nigeria and seeking political asylum in Europe.

For the last 53, these aides have been held in detention with their lawyers trying to secure their freedom. Today, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, signed a release order for four of them, ignoring the argument of the DSS lawyer Idowu Awo and ruling that Amudat Babatunde, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Oyetunji, and Bamidele Sunday should be freed from detention.

Their lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, confirmed the development, saying the judge could not sign the release order of the other eight detainees because three of the sureties withdrew before concluding the process of perfecting the bail conditions of his clients. These eight detainees still being held are Abdullateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Irinloye, Dikeola Ademola, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Olakunle Oluwapelumi, Raji Kazeem and Taiwo Tajudeen.

Mr Olajengbesi, however, expressed optimism that the three sureties that pulled out would be replaced and the judge would sign their release order too. He also urged the DSS to comply with the court order and release his clients immediately.