Court Summons DSS Chief Over Contempt in Nnamdi Kanu’s Case

Kehinde Fajobi

The Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned Adeola Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), to explain why he should not be imprisoned for contempt of court.

In a notice issued on Thursday and signed by the court registrar, Ajayi was directed to appear in court to address his non-compliance with an earlier order from Justice Binta Nyako, which mandated that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), be allowed visits from his legal team three times a week.

The notice, dated October 18, stated: “You have since 27th September 2024 to date not allowed applicant’s counsel to have any visitation with him. On account of the above, you have thus not complied with the three days per week visitation to the applicant as was ordered by the court.”

It further emphasised, “By blocking counsel visitation to the applicant, you have thus not allowed such a facility that is required for the preparation of the applicant’s defence.”

The court had earlier issued a “Form 48 Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to the Order of Court” against Ajayi, warning that failure to comply with the visitation order could result in his imprisonment.

Kanu, currently held by the DSS following his re-arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria in 2021, faces trial on a seven-count charge of treasonable felony.