Abuja Judge’s DHL Move: Fear of SSS Abduction Threat.
In a bold move reflecting concerns over the State Security Service’s (SSS) perceived militarization and hooliganism, Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi, a federal judge in Abuja, directed a lawyer to serve court processes on the SSS via DHL.
The judge, presiding over a case at the Gudu Division of the FCT High Court, expressed fears that sending a bailiff to the SSS office could pose serious risks due to the agency’s notorious reputation.
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Justice Osho-Adebiyi modified the application of Zaid Nurudeen, counsel to a plaintiff seeking court permission to send its bailiff to serve notice of hearing and other filings on the SSS. Citing the militarized nature of the agency, the judge emphasized the potential danger to the court staff.
“You want me to endanger my bailiff by sending him to the SSS office? When you know how militarized those people are,” remarked Justice Osho-Adebiyi on Monday.
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Given the agency’s history of hooliganism, including allegations of torture and brutality, the judge opted for a safer approach. She ordered the lawyer to use the services of DHL, a courier giant, to deliver the court filings to the SSS office.
The SSS, created in 1986, has faced criticism for its involvement in repressive actions, including assassinations, during the military regimes of the 1990s. Even after Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999, the agency continued to be associated with intimidation of political opposition, media practitioners, civic groups, and citizens.
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Justice Osho-Adebiyi’s cautious stance aligns with recent reports of SSS agents brutalizing a lawyer resisting the forced questioning of his client. The current case involves Emmanuel Osagwu, a professional footballer seeking protection from SSS harassment based on an alleged “fictitious” petition by his estranged girlfriend, Sylvie Benard.
Osagwu detailed instances of inhumane torture, day-long detention, and brutalization by federal agents, accusing his estranged girlfriend of orchestrating his arrest.
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The judge’s decision to avoid endangering court staff highlights the broader concerns regarding the SSS’s conduct, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings. Ejes Gist News will continue to monitor and report on developments in this case.**
