…Pays N20m compensation
Following the clearance of four suspects initially alleged to the members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DGSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi has the suspects free.
Accordingly, the DSS Director General also approved a payment of N20 million to the freed four suspects, out of which, each of the suspects is to receive five million Naira as compensation.
A dependable security source disclosed that the suspects namely; Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry, were arrested in May 2022, in Sampou and Akeddei communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
The security source said; “The DSS being a thorough Agency established that they had been misled into believing that they would each receive a monthly payment of N100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, not knowing that they were being lured by a group of IPOB members who are now facing trial”.
While receiving the four suspects, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, Counsel to the suspects, commended the DSS for their relentless efforts towards safeguarding Nigeria’s security, and particularly acknowledged the Director General of the Service genuine attempt at upholding human rights.
Adeyanju noted the high level of hygiene and professionalism within the Service, saying that it is the best he has witnessed in over 20 years of interacting with DSS personnel.
He reiterated his earlier public statement that President Tinubu made the right choice in appointing Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi as DSS DG. In his own remarks, Emele Uduma, who spoke on behalf of the other suspects, expressed gratitude to the DSS boss, and described the day as the happiest of his life, stressing that the experience had taught him a valuable lesson which he would share with others.
Uduma offered prayers for God’s continued blessings upon the Director General of the DSS and the management of the Service.
It would be recalled that upon assuming office in 2024, the DG ordered a review of over 300 inherited terrorism cases.
Currently, the DSS panel has been able to decongest its facility to about 100 after thorough investigations, paying over a billion naira in compensation.
The DSS boss awarded N20 million and covered the medical bills of a Jos based businessman, who was shot erroneously by service personnel in Plateau State.
Similarly, Chineze Ozoadibe was also compensated with N10 million after she was wrongfully arrested, just as Sunday Ifedi, was also compensated with 10 million naira after investigation cleared him of ties with IPOB.
In the same vein, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor was also paid N5 million after investigation absolved him of IPOB allegations.
These were aside other numerous cases that the DSS handled quietly and did not make news outside the Service.
It was further gathered that like other compensated suspects, the DSS will also offer psychological, medical support to the four freed suspects in addition to the initial amount given.
It was also gathered that the DSS will also help to reintegrate the four freed suspects back into the society.
The DG- DSS, Mr. Ajayi in a recent media interview admitted that, as humans, the DSS is prone to make mistakes, adding however, that where there is injury, there must be remedy.
According to Ajayi; “Where we admit our mistakes, we offer compensation, and seek ways to improve operations in tandem with the rule of law”.
