The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a strict warning to Adeola Ajayi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), over his failure to comply with a court order granting Nnamdi Kanu visitation rights. Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in DSS custody since his 2021 re-arrest and extradition from Kenya, facing charges of treasonable felony.
Despite the court ruling that Kanu must be allowed visits from his legal team on specified days, his lawyers have accused the DSS of consistently denying access. On Friday, October 18, the court served a “Form 48 notice of consequences of disobedience to the order of court” to Ajayi, warning that his continued non-compliance could result in imprisonment.
The notice clearly states: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order — by allowing the applicant’s counsel to conduct the court-ordered visitations with the applicant on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays — you will be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be committed to prison.”
The court had previously ruled that up to five members of Kanu’s legal team should be allowed to visit him on the designated days. However, the DSS has allegedly ignored this directive, leading to the court’s stern warning.
Aloy Ejimakor, one of Kanu’s lead attorneys, also released a statement on Friday, October 18, threatening to begin contempt proceedings against the DSS if the refusal to allow visitation continues. Ejimakor expressed frustration over the DSS’s actions, saying Kanu’s lawyers had been unable to see their client for almost a month.
“This notice arises from repeated disobedience of the court-ordered visitation of Mazi Kanu by the newly appointed Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, who has not allowed Mazi Kanu’s lawyers to visit him for almost a month,” Ejimakor stated.
He further warned that, should the DSS Director-General persist in defying the court order, the legal team would have no choice but to initiate full contempt proceedings.
